Telework Exchange

Where Do We Go (To Work) From Here?

Currently 5.00/5

Have you ever stared at a blank page, with no idea how to start writing? It sucks, doesn’t it? I know I am not the first writer to experience this, because people have written books about not be able to write (funny, isn’t it?). It's not really writer's block, because I have lots of great things to tell you about. It’s more of a feeling of uncertainty as to where the whole telework discussion is going.

Every couple of months we assemble (virtually and in person) a small group of very smart people from both government and industry who have some ownership of telework to help us guide our programs, research, and events. Its official name is the visionary committee, but I used to call it the coalition of the willing. Sometimes it seemed like we had everyone who cared about telework in one room (or on the phone).

Well, my friends, that is no longer the case. On April 28, we held the Spring Telework Town Hall Meeting and it was standing room only. More than 900 people joined us at the Ronald Reagan Building in D.C. for a daylong conversation about policy, technology, sustainability, human capital, and work/life balance issues surrounding telework. We had speakers from OPM, GSA, DHS, DoD, DOL, HHS, IRS, and even the White House. We also had many industry leaders such as Adobe, AT&T, Booz Allen Hamilton, Cisco, Citrix, Deloitte, and Microsoft. I want to give a special shout-out to everyone who brought his or her son or daughter (coincidentally it was bring your child to work day). We even had a lead-by-example moment when Telework Exchange founder Steve O’Keeffe showed up with his son, Jack.

Someone suggested we change the name of Telework Exchange to the Work Exchange because what we were discussing was more about all workers than a subset of them who work remotely. I’m not sure I am ready to sign on to that quite yet, but here is what I took away from the meeting: our days at the kids’ table are past. We now have a seat and a voice in the policy and technology discussions happening at all levels of government and industry. Pat Tamburrino, who owns human capital for civilian defense department employees (DASD, CivPers Policy in DoD parlance) said DoD is not discussing if or how they will implement telework across the 800,000 staff under his purview. They are pushing the control down to the components with a very clear instruction that says, “do this.” “Everyone has a supervisor,” said Tamburrino and that’s who will be responsible in DoD.

This is happening, folks. No kidding. But it gets even better. Justin Johnson, OPM Deputy Chief of Staff and John Berry’s point person for telework, made it very clear that this is not an exercise in meeting the letter of the law. In fact, he encouraged agencies not to promote telework for telework’s sake. It’s about creating efficiencies and improving productivity. Do it when it makes sense and be able to show how it’s working. Let me say that again. Use telework as a management tool to bring value to the American people and give government workers the ability to better and smarter. Amen.

We even had the President’s own disaster boy come by and extol the value of telework in the continuity toolbox. White House resilience chief Richard Reed took time out of his crazy busy schedule (trust me, I know this guy and his photo is next to the term 24/7 in the dictionary) to run across the street and let everyone know that the President is counting on each of them to be working no matter where or when the crisis hits. Then he ran out to go help people coordinate the response to the awful storms in Alabama and across the South.

And just to prove proximity is not a requirement for participation, GSA’s Kevin Kampschroer joined a panel discussion from New York City via video teleconference. Next year maybe we will have remote panelists and attendees. There were also great insights and lessons learned from agencies and companies who are creating a whole new set of rules and practices every day. If you haven’t seen what the GSA TMO Sharon Wall and her telework program management office are doing, you need to check it out.

It was like drinking from the fire hose, but I was most excited about how many people I didn’t know in the room. I remember a few years back we could have held a telework symposium in my living room and now we are outgrowing the second largest federal office building in America. It was great to see and meet some many new people who are involved in this issue.

Best of all, I even got to throw down with some folks about my last column (watch this space for a response to my rant about the keystroke loggers). If you couldn’t make it because you were out of town or had a date with Smokey the Bear (you know who you are), you better mark your calendar now for October 18, when we do it again at the Fall Telework Town Hall Meeting.

As always, I look forward to your comments, thoughts, and concerns. Write your thoughts below or e-mail me at jsawislak@teleworkexchange.com.

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Comments

Julie McGregor May 11, 2011 11:13 pm

Agreed! It IS happening... and the Spring Town Hall Meeting was not only proof of that, but a fabulous venue that inspired all! (Just a little ladies room talk... while washing my hands I heard a couple gals talking about how FABULOUS the entire vibe was. They said they were more excited about teleworking than ever before!) Pretty cool stuff-->even Smokey The Bear could dig it. :) Keep up the good blogging, BLOGGER!

Terry May 12, 2011 9:09 am

Like Julie, I also agree that we have finally reached the "tipping point" with telework. Each Town Hall meeting is better than the one before. I hope that you will use some of the technology on exhibit at the Fall Town Hall meeting to include those outside the DC area (as well as local teleworkers). Wouldn't it be nice to hear from real teleworkers in action, instead of just the program administrators? Keep up the good work Josh!

Mika Cross May 12, 2011 10:43 am

Smokey the Bear, unfortunately, had to trump the Spring Town Hall this year... however, the USDA was there in spirit! Telework is spreading like Wild Fire (no pun intended) across our turf and there is no stopping. Looking forward to joining in the Fall Town Hall!

Josh Sawislak May 13, 2011 12:27 am

Thanks Julie, Terry, and Mika. So Julie, THAT is what women talk about in the ladies? Really, I have to say that I am both awed and disappointed at the same time. Trust me, guys only talk sports or try to avoid eye contact in loo. And Terry, I am with you bud on the tipping point. I just wrapped three days in San Diego at GSA Expo and we held a number of excellent telework focus groups with employees, supervisors, and leadership. As we walked the floor at Expo and talked to government workers and vendors alike, we didn't get the usual stare when our response to "what do you do?" was telework. But now we need to make sure everyone know that this is not an effort to promote telework for telework's sake, its a tool for improving productivity, sustainability, and supporting our great people.

And Mika, Smokey must be a teleworker, since I don't think he has an "office."

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