Your quality of life in the Georgia National Guard is paramount. Telework can certainly add to that quality of life.

What is telework? It is a program that allows flexibility in working your scheduled hours but some of them may be done in your home. There are requirements that must be met to telework.

The new telework policy is below and I encourage you to read it and understand it fully.

The Georgia National Guard Telework Policy implements the requirements of the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010. This Policy applies to military technicians, AGR, and non-dual status technicians employed by the Georgia National Guard.

There is also the Telework policy for State DOD employees embeded below as well.

These Policies are designed to actively promote telework as a legitimate option in flexibility for managers and their employees throughout the Georgia National Guard.

A quick glance at Telework:

1. It improves the recruitment and retention of high-quality employees through enhancements to employees' quality of life.

2. It increases employee satisfaction and productivity as well as reduces absenteeism.

3. It enhances the efforts to accommodate people with disabilities, including employees who have temporary health problems, or who might otherwise have to retire on disability.

4. Telework is a management option rather than an employeeA telework arrangement is not a right or a requirement and may be terminated at will by either the employee or the supervisor.

5. Participation in the program will be terminated if an employee's performance does not meet the prescribed standard or if the teleworking arrangement fails to meet organizational needs.

6. Telework may not be used to replace appropriate arrangements for dependent care, elderly care, or in lieu of the use of annual or sick leave.

7. Employees, who telework, continue to be bound by the Department of Defense and agency standards of conduct while working at the alternative worksite and using Government-furnished equipment.

My thanks to Col Eric Jones, Sandra Bruce and their teams in HRO and Personnel for explaining this most important opportunity within the Georgia National Guard!

-- Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth, Adjutant General of Georgia