Despite a threat of financial penalties, federal agencies have been slow to implement telework programs, even though there's an overwhelming interest in telecommuting by government workers.

Eighty-seven percent of federal employees surveyed say they're interested in teleworking, but only 19% actually do so. The survey findings appear in a study, Federal Telework Report, issued this week by CDW Government Inc., a government IT advisory service. CDW-G conducted in-person interviews with 139 federal workers and an online survey of 148 federal IT professionals.

Federal law requires the government to withhold $5 million from agencies within the departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, as well as the Small Business Administration, if they fail to put in place acceptable teleworking policies by Feb. 8.

The IT professionals surveyed blame information-security requirements for the slow progress on developing telework programs. Indeed, 56% say they're unsure of the best technology tools to meet telework security requirements. These government IT pros cite information security as their top concern related to telework, especially given that two-thirds of federal workers who telework use personal PCs and not government-issued computers.

The report pointed out potential policy conflicts between Congressional requirements for telework and government IT-security requirements. One law requires that 100% of the eligible federal workforce must be able to participate in telecommuting to the maximum extent possible by this year without diminished employee performance. At the same time the Federal Information Security Management Act requires certification and accreditation of every system that has access to federal information. Yet, 65% of federal IT professionals are unsure of telework's impact on meeting FISMA requirements.

"None of the technology or security issues highlighted by federal IT professionals is insurmountable," William Mularie, CEO of the Telework Consortium, a government-sponsored research center, said in a statement. "We see private-sector companies managing these same concerns to realize the benefits telework provides today."

Among other survey findings:


Half of the federal workers believe they're either ineligible or unsure if they're eligible to telework.

45% of federal employees say their managers generally view telework favorably.

Federal employees cite the elimination of their commute--74%--and an improvement in work flexibility--60%--as the primary reasons for preferring telework.

Of the 13% of federal employees who wouldn't telework if given the option, just over half say isolation is the primary deterrent, followed by 42% who believe that they would have reduced productivity.

Four of 10 federal employees connect from home offices using a dial-up connection, with cable modems outpacing DSL connections among broadband users by a two-to-one margin.

One-quarter of federal IT professionals are aware of the agency fines included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for failure to develop telework policies.

Authentication and PKI/encryption devices top the purchase list of federal IT professionals looking to meet telework security requirements.
Supporters of teleworking argue that the practice reduces traffic congestion and pollution, improves employee recruitment and retention, increases productivity, and reduces the need for office space.