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IMPLEMENTATION MANUAL
INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND:The U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. General Services Administration are sponsoring a government-wide telecommuting program to increase opportunities for employees to work part of their regular workweek at an alternate worksite, either at home or at a telecommuting center.

This manual is provided to assist Federal agencies and their employees establish and participate in such flexible (alternative) workplace arrangements as Flexiplace or at a telecommuting center.

Important things to remember about this program include:

  • In this document, the terms "Telecommuting" and "Flexiplace" are used interchangeably. Both refer to "any location other than an employee's normal duty station." Participants are called "Telecommuters" regardless of what their alternative work arrangements are.

  • The "main office" refers to the telecommuter's primary traditional worksite as opposed to the "alternate" or "alternative" worksite (telecenter or employee residence).

  • Telecommuting and Flexiplace arrangements operate according to guidelines and procedures established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the GSA. These guidelines and procedures are included in this manual.

  • A Telecommuting Center (Telecenter) is a multi-agency facility that provides a geographically convenient office setting as an alternative to the Federal employee's main office. Federal telecenters also serve as conveniently located administrative support centers for home-based telecommuters.

POINT OF CONTACT:This manual was prepared by Dr. Wendell Joice of the Office of Real Property. If you have questions or need further information, contact him at:

    Wendell H. Joice, Ph.D.
    Innovative Workplaces Division, Office of Real Property, Office of Governmentwide Policy
    U.S. General Services Administration
    18th and F Streets N.W. Room 7007
    Washington, D.C. 20405
    Phone: (202) 273-4664
    Fax: (202) 219-0104
    Email: wendell.joice@gsa.gov

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:This manual includes information and documentation provided by:

  • Ellen Russell, U.S. Office of Personnel Management
  • Maxine Sterling, U.S. General Services Administration
  • The Joint National Council of Field Labor Locals-Management Flexiplace Task Force, U.S. Department of Labor
The General Services Administration gratefully acknowledges the above contributions.
REFERENCE MATERIALS:Following is a list of reference materials utilized, directly or indirectly, by developers of this manual. Some of these materials are no longer in print but are available for downloading from the specified electronic bulletin boards.

  • Energy Emissions and The Social Consequences of Telecommuting. U.S. Department of Energy: Office of Policy, Planning and Program Evaluation - (202) 586-4456.

  • Federal Information Resources Management Regulations (FIRMR). U.S. General Services Administration : Information Resources Management Reference Center - (202) 501-0666.

  • Final Report of the Federal Flexible Workplace Pilot Project (Flexiplace) Work-At-Home Component. U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Office of Personnel Research and Development. Available on GSA Office of Workplace Initiatives Bulletin Board "CASUCOM" - (202) 501-7707. Also available on OPM Bulletin Board "OPM Mainstreet" - (202) 606-4800.

  • Flexiplace: Questions and Answers on Computer and Telephone Issues. U.S. General Services Administration : Information Resources Management Services. Available on the Council of Governments (COG) Teleconx Bulletin Board - (301) 216-2459.

  • Managing End User Computing for Users With Disabilities. U.S. General Services Administration : Clearinghouse on Computer Accommodation - (202) 501-4906.

  • Policy and Procedures Manual for the Guidance of Federal Agencies. U.S. General Accounting Office: Document Distribution Center - (202) 512-6000.

  • Transportation Implications of Telecommuting. U.S. Department of Transportation - (202) 366-5403.