PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Heads of executive agencies must create a telework policy within 180 days. The policy must decide who in the agency can telework and tell every employee whether they are eligible. Workers who were disciplined for being absent without permission for more than 5 days in a year, or who were disciplined for viewing, downloading, or sharing pornography (including child pornography) on a government computer or while on duty, cannot telework under the policy. The policy must keep work quality and agency operations strong. It must require a written agreement between a manager and the employee to allow telework, and failure to follow that agreement can stop telework. Employees whose daily duties require handling secure materials that are not suitable for telework, or that require on-site tasks that cannot be done remotely, may not telework except in emergencies the agency head allows. Telework plans must be part of the agency’s emergency backup plans. The policy must also say when temporary work from approved overseas locations is allowed, but not if the job requires handling secure materials at least once a month. If an employee is put on investigative leave under section 6329b, the agency may require them to telework similar duties only if it won’t create safety risks, destroy evidence, damage government property, harm government interests, and the employee is eligible and the agency thinks it appropriate.

Title 5, §6502

Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Telework Eligibility.—

(1)In general.—

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this chapter, the head of each executive agency shall—

(A)establish a policy under which eligible employees of the agency may be authorized to telework;

(B)determine the eligibility for all employees of the agency to participate in telework; and

(C)notify all employees of the agency of their eligibility to telework.

(2)Limitation.—

An employee may not telework under a policy established under this section if—

(A)the employee has been officially disciplined for being absent without permission for more than 5 days in any calendar year; or

(B)the employee has been officially disciplined for violations of subpart G of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch for viewing, downloading, or exchanging pornography, including child pornography, on a Federal Government computer or while performing official Federal Government duties.

(b)Participation.—

The policy described under subsection (a) shall—

(1)ensure that telework does not diminish employee performance or agency operations;

(2)require a written agreement that—

(A)is entered into between an agency manager and an employee authorized to telework, that outlines the specific work arrangement that is agreed to; and

(B)is mandatory in order for any employee to participate in telework;

(3)provide that an employee may not be authorized to telework if the performance of that employee does not comply with the terms of the written agreement between the agency manager and that employee;

(4)except in emergency situations as determined by the head of an agency, not apply to any employee of the agency whose official duties require on a daily basis (every work day)—

(A)direct handling of secure materials determined to be inappropriate for telework by the agency head; or

(B)on-site activity that cannot be handled remotely or at an alternate worksite;

(5)be incorporated as part of the continuity of operations plans of the agency in the event of an emergency; and

(6)enumerate the circumstances under which employees may be permitted to temporarily perform work requirements and duties from approved overseas locations, provided that, except in emergency situations as determined by the head of the agency, such circumstances shall not include a situation in which an employee’s official duties require on at least a monthly basis the direct handling of secure materials determined to be inappropriate for telework by the agency head.

(c)Required Telework.—

If an agency places an employee in investigative leave under section 6329b, the agency may require the employee to, through telework, perform duties similar to the duties that the employee performs on-site if—

(1)the agency determines that such a requirement would not—

(A)pose a threat to the employee or others;

(B)result in the destruction of evidence relevant to an investigation;

(C)result in the loss of or damage to Government property; or

(D)otherwise jeopardize legitimate Government interests;

(2)the employee is eligible to telework under subsections (a) and (b) of this section; and

(3)the agency determines that it would be appropriate for the employee to perform the duties of the employee through telework.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of enactment of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 111–292, which was approved Dec. 9, 2010.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 117–81 added par. (6). 2016—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–328 added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Telecommuting Opportunities Pub. L. 117–81, div. F, title LXII, § 6202, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2389, provided that: “(a) DETO Policy.—“(1) In general.—Each Federal department and agency shall establish a policy enumerating the circumstances under which employees may be permitted to temporarily perform work requirements and duties from approved overseas locations where there is a related Foreign Service assignment pursuant to an approved Domestically Employed Teleworking Overseas (DETO) agreement, consistent with the requirements under section 6502 of title 5, United States code [sic] (relating to the executive agencies telework requirements), as amended by paragraph (2), and DETO requirements, as set forth in the Foreign Affairs Manual and Foreign Affairs Handbook of the Department of State. “(2) Amendment.— [Amended this section.] “(b) Access to ICASS System.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2021], the Secretary of State shall revise chapter 900 of volume 6 of the Foreign Affairs Manual, the International Cooperative Administrative Support Services Handbook, the Personnel Operations Handbook, and any other relevant

Regulations

to allow each Federal agency that has enacted a policy under subsection (a) to have access to the International Cooperative Administrative Support Services (ICASS) system.”

§6502 Executive Agencies Telework Requirement