Many Managers Resist the Call for More Telecommuting

Concerns over employee productivity and a lack of control over employee activities make it difficult for federal managers to support telecommuting, according to a survey released yesterday.

But federal managers also think telecommuting improves "work-life balance" for employees, and makes their agencies more competitive in hiring and keeping employees, the survey found.

The survey was sponsored by the Telework Exchange, which brings federal officials and technology professionals together to promote telecommuting, and the Federal Managers Association, which represents the interests of nearly 200,000 supervisors and managers across government. The survey was underwritten by Tandberg, a company that makes software for video, voice and other data.

Darryl Perkinson, president of the managers association, called the survey "pretty accurate and reflective" of opinions held by federal managers, even though a relatively small number, 214, responded.

Perkinson acknowledged that allowing federal employees to work from home raises difficult questions and is not appropriate for some occupations. He added, "I don't think we need to give up on telework," especially if it could be a job perk that helps the government attract top-notch job applicants or lure back retirees interested in working part time or on projects.

Bush administration officials and some members of Congress, such as Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.), have urged federal agencies to allow employees to work from home at least one day a week or at the 14 telework centers in this region sponsored by the General Services Administration. They think telecommuting can ease traffic congestion and pollution in the region and also help agencies get their work done in the event of a natural disaster or a crisis that forces office shutdowns.

The most recent data show that only 19 percent of eligible federal workers can be considered telecommuters, and managerial resistance is seen as the reason for what some officials consider to be a relatively low participation rate, given the size of the government.

Federal managers were asked in the survey whether they think their agencies support telecommuting: 35 percent said yes, 47 percent said no and 18 percent were unsure.

Regardless of their involvement in telecommuting programs, almost three-quarters of respondents cited two common concerns: fear of losing control over employees and loss of productivity.

That stands in contrast with the common perception that lack of funding and security issues keep managers from embracing telework. Last year, a survey of 200 federal technology officials found that nearly 40 percent worried about security breaches involving telecommuters. The technology officials listed concerns about remote access to systems, violation of employee privacy and disruption of agency operations.

But the survey of federal managers showed that managers who are most involved in telecommuting -- and telecommute themselves -- hold more favorable attitudes than their colleagues: 21 percent of managers who telecommute said they were concerned about security issues, compared with 43 percent of managers who have no telecommuters in their office.

Still, federal managers in the survey said telecommuting programs can affect productivity by making it more challenging to communicate with employees. Thirty-two percent cited the lack of face-to-face contact with employees as a problem, and 22 percent cited the inability to sit around a table with employees as a disadvantage.

The mangers also said they do not see e-mail and voice messages as a substitute for face-to-face contact, with 61 percent saying they had misinterpreted e-mail and 43 percent saying they had misunderstood a phone message from co-workers.

GSA Increases Mileage Rate

The General Services Administration announced yesterday that the standard mileage reimbursement rate for federal employees who use their cars for official business will be increased to 48.5 cents per mile, a 4-cent increase over the current rate. The new rate becomes effective Feb. 1, the GSA said, noting that it mirrors the rate adjustment approved by the Internal Revenue Service last year.

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.