Q: How do I identify my Component Telework Coordinator?
A: For a copy of the current listing of Department of Defense Component Telework Coordinators email: dodtelework@cpms.osd.mil.

Q: If I am a new DoD employee, can I start teleworking immediately?
A: Employees recently assigned or newly appointed to trainee or entry level positions in
the Component are ineligible to telework immediately. The length of time for which the
employee is deemed ineligible for telework is at the discretion of each DoD Component.
Contact your Component Telework Coordinator for the Component’s telework policy.

Q: Can telework help an employee with child or other dependent care needs?
A: Telework is not a substitute for dependent care. However, telework can be very valuable to individuals with care-giving responsibilities. Time saved commuting can be spent with family members, and the flexibility of being closer to home may enable caregivers to take less time off for activities like doctor’s visits, school programs, etc. A teen-aged child or elderly relative might also be at home with the teleworker, after school or during the day, as long as they are independently pursuing their own activities.

Q: Am I eligible to telework?
A: Some DoD positions are not eligible for telework due to mission requirements, such
as positions that require the handling of secure materials or direct face-to-face personal
contact that cannot be handled remotely. Additionally, employees in positions whose last performance rating of record is below fully successful (or its equivalent) or whose conduct has resulted in disciplinary action within the past 12 months are not eligible to
telework. Employees recently assigned or newly appointed to trainee or entry level positions in the Component are ineligible to telework immediately. You may be eligible to
telework if your job is partly or wholly portable, meaning that you can do work offsite
without workflow or security concerns. In addition, your performance will be considered,
as will other factors about your workgroup, including staffing, budget, and the need for
office coverage.

Q: How do I apply to telework?
A: Components have guidance and procedures that would determine exactly how you
apply for a telework arrangement. See your telework coordinator for this information. In
general, you should be prepared to make a mission-based proposal for your arrangement, rather than one based on personal considerations. In addition to describing logistics like your telework location and frequency, you should be able to discuss how you will accomplish your work without adverse effect on your organization and/or co-workers.

Q: Who is responsible for approving an employee's request to telework?
A: Typically your immediate supervisor approves your telework request. Contact your Component Telework Coordinator for Component specific requirements and procedures.

Q: Is there telework training available for employees?
A: Yes. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) provides Web-based employee training modules at telework.gov. Check with your Component Telework Coordinator to find out about any telework training your Component may offer, as well.

Q: Can a manager deny a request to telework?
A: Managers can deny a request to telework, based on mission requirements. For
example, an employee’s performance may not meet DoD telework policy’s standards,
their position may not be eligible, or the workgroup may not be staffed adequately to
provide needed office coverage. The denial should be documented in writing and given to the employee.

Q: What can I do if my manager won't let me telework?
A: Although use of telework is encouraged, telework is not a right and not all employees
and/or Service members are eligible to telework. Due to the nature of the mission, security classification, and sensitivity of information, some DoD jobs are not suitable for
telework. Within this framework, managers and supervisors generally have discretion to
implement telework to fit the mission needs of the Component. You can work with your
Telework Coordinator to fully understand relevant DoD and Component policies and
procedures. If you are eligible by the terms of the policy and have followed proper procedures, your Telework Coordinator can help you write a mission-based proposal to
submit to your manager.

Q: If my office is closed due to inclement weather or some other emergency, are teleworkers excused from work as well?
A: Not necessarily. As detailed in OPM’s dismissal or closure procedures, teleworkers
may still be required to work. For example, employees who perform duties in support of
mission requirements during a crisis situation or contingency may be required to work
from an alternative worksite. Any such requirements should be spelled out in the telework agreement, and managers should take into account personal circumstances (for instance, school closures that may send dependent children home) when making these determinations.

Q: Can DoD contractors telework?
A: Since the Federal telework program and policies cover only Federal employees, Federal contractors are not governed by OPM and GSA telework guidance or by individual agency policies, and are not counted in the annual Telework Report to Congress. However, this does not prohibit contract employees from actually teleworking, as appropriate. Telework arrangements for contractors should be negotiated with both the contractor’s own employer and with the appropriate DoD Component official, so policies and procedures are in close alignment and all concerned parties are in agreement. Telework language may even be integrated into the contract itself.

Q: If my job is in one state, can I telework from a different state? What happens
to my duty station if I do this? Does my Component reimburse me for any travel back to my office?
A: There is no government-wide or DoD restriction on distance from duty station for
teleworkers as long as all other eligibility requirements are met. Teleworking from this
distance may have an effect on duty station, if you do not return to your main office at
least twice per week. For more information, see DoD Instruction 1035.01, Telework
Policy.

Q: Where do I submit my telework application?
A: Components have guidance and procedures that determine exactly where you should
submit your telework application. See your Telework Coordinator for this information.

Q: Do I need a Telework Agreement before I can telework?
A: All DoD employees who telework on a regular and recurring basis must complete a
written Telework Agreement before beginning a telework arrangement. Employees who
telework on a situational or ad hoc basis are strongly encouraged to have a Telework
Agreement in place.