Government remote work policy [+ template]
Government agencies have a much higher burden of making sure that tax-funded employees are productive at home, keeping data secure on secured tech, and working in the best interest of the public.
A remote work policy for a government agency is only as strong as it is enforced. IT and security departments will ensure that the laptop employees take home, is logged, tracked, secure, and labeled. Productivity is ensured through task-management software like Tasker and internal time tracking tools.
What is the current US government remote work policy?
In summary: The government has had “teleworkers” since 2010 when a new law made it much easier for federal workers to bring their work off site. Their official work site is still an agency home office, as seen in the quote. However, remote workers’ official work site is their home. From their website;
“Official Worksite
An employee’s official worksite will depend if they are a teleworker or a remote worker. The employing office determines the official duty station.
A teleworker’s official duty station will be the agency home office.
A remote worker’s official duty station will be their home (or other approved alternate location).”
Example Remote Work Policy for XYZ Government Agency
Purpose:
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for employees of XYZ Government Agency who are working remotely.
Eligibility:
Employees are eligible for remote work if their job duties are suitable for remote work and they have completed the necessary training to work remotely.
Remote work must be approved by the employee's supervisor.
Remote Work Days:
Employees are allowed to work from home on specific days during the week, as approved by their supervisor.
The specific days of the week that remote work is allowed will be determined by the supervisor based on the needs of the department.
Responsibilities:
Employees who are approved for remote work must have a reliable internet connection, appropriate equipment and software to perform their job duties, and a safe and secure working environment.
Employees must comply with all agency policies and procedures, including but not limited to, security, data protection, and confidentiality.
Employees must be reachable during regular business hours and must be available for meetings, conference calls, and other work-related activities as scheduled.
Employees must maintain accurate and timely records of their work activities, and must submit regular reports to their supervisor as required.
Employees will be required to participate in regular performance evaluations to ensure that they are meeting the expectations of the agency.
Review and Update:
This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis and updated as necessary to meet the changing needs of the agency.
