It’s already been more than two years since the pandemic forced a dramatic shift in organizations’ workplace operations, and federal agencies were no exception. The rapid adoption of remote work in 2020 led agencies to permanently change the way they operate, with remote and hybrid working environments now here to stay. Still, private and public organizations continue to try to figure out exactly how to structure their new work environments if some form of remote work is truly permanent. How can agencies make sure they have the bandwidth to handle a dispersed workforce indefinitely?
Government agencies can invest in technological enhancements that keep everyone connected — and safe — as they work remotely for the foreseeable future. They can also update remote work policies to reflect the current landscape. Some federal agencies, such as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), have already released guidance on remote work best practices for federal agencies, giving other agencies a roadmap to thrive in their new working environments…
When updating policies to accommodate permanent remote work, it’s vital that agencies clearly define what their agency worksites, alternative worksites and official worksites are. After all, remote work is an alternative work arrangement that involves an employee performing their official duties at an approved alternative worksite away from an agency worksite… Read the full article here.