https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Smart Cities & Technology


Viewpoint: Teleworking: Coming soon to an office near you

Viewpoint: Teleworking: Coming soon to an office near you

Many state and local governments are making strides in telework by using innovative technologies and management practices to enhance workplace flexibility.
  • Written by American City & County Administrator
  • 22nd March 2011

With the recent signing of the Telework Enhancement Act, which requires federal agencies to establish telework policies, federal telework is in the spotlight. However, many state and local governments also are making strides in telework by using innovative technologies and management practices to enhance workplace flexibility.

Telework programs can have several benefits, including supporting business continuity. Integrating telework into a business continuity plan is especially important for state and local agencies, because they are expected to provide the first response during emergencies. Whether a water main breaks or snowfall halts transportation, telework has helped the Washington area stay up and running. In both situations, government employees can work from home to avoid dangerous conditions and maintain business operations. The federal government projected that teleworking during the February 2010 snowstorms saved taxpayers $30 million a day, cutting the projected loss of productivity from an initial estimate of $100 million.

Many agencies that have implemented telework programs also have increased productivity and improved employee performance. For example, as part of a telework pilot program, the Virginia Department of Taxation had more than 60 percent of employees work from home at least one day per week and found that at-home workers experienced a 75 percent increase in productivity during the week.

Local and state agencies can implement pilot projects to test the results in their organizations. Loudoun County, Va., conducted a pilot program in 2006 and within a year implemented a full telework program for the building inspection department. The program equipped all 76 building inspectors and supervisors with notebook computers containing broadband cards and Virtual Private Network (VPN) access to the county’s network and its applications. With telework, inspectors receive assignments, conduct research and communicate inspection results remotely, eliminating up to 152 trips to the office by the inspectors daily. The county hopes to realize $95,000 in annual leased office space savings when the current office lease expires.

Steps to implement a telework program

1. Build your program. Develop an organization-wide telework policy and agreement that addresses eligibility and defines telework. Training is critical to ensure managers and employees are prepared for the culture change. Also, establish measurable goals, which include measuring employees’ performance against project schedules and key milestones, regular status reporting, and peer and/or project team quality reviews.

2. Gain management support. Educating managers and key stakeholders on the benefits of telework is the first step. Encouraging managers to telework can help show the value firsthand. According to Telework Exchange research, managers most involved in telework (those who telework themselves) report favorable impressions with 21 percent greater frequency than managers who do not telework or manage teleworkers.

3. Implement technology. A wide variety of telework-enabling technology is available. Typically, teleworkers require a computer, peripheral equipment (e.g., printer, copier, scanner and facsimile), phone, Internet connectivity, secure network access and technical support. In addition, organizations use tools such as video conferencing, web-based collaboration solutions, Voice over Internet Protocol, and mobile personal digital assistants.

Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Aruba Networks recommends using secure network access (e.g., VPN) technology to handle sensitive information in a telework environment. Supporting mobility also must be taken into consideration. Technologies, such as context-based security, can allow state and local governments to securely deal with unsupported devices, such as iPads and smartphones, to maintain compliance and support mobility at the same time.

Across the country, state and local governments are initiating telework programs that benefit their communities by improving efficiency and productivity. Federal, state and local agencies should share their experiences and best practices on how to achieve telework success.

Cindy Auten is general manager for Telework Exchange, an Alexandria, Va.-based public-private partnership focused on expanding the awareness and adoption of telework. For more information about Telework Exchange, visit www.teleworkexchange.com.

Related Stories

  • Telework Survey Reveals IT Support Expanding
  • Federal business continuity may depend on telework
  • TECHNOLOGY/Austin fights air pollution with telework program

What do you think? Tell us in the comment box below.

Tags: Administration Economy Smart Cities & Technology

Most Recent


  • How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient
    This article first appeared on Urgent Communication. It’s a scenario we’ve all experienced: an ambulance with a blaring siren racing against time to get a person in medical distress to a hospital through traffic. What we don’t see is 5G connectivity enabling paramedics to communicate with hospital staff via video conference and coordinate care in […]
  • Shifting city demographics present an opportunity to build coalitions, address inequality
    Minority-majority cities are driving American growth. New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, for example, combined for an estimated 16% of the nation’s total gross domestic product in 2021—future projections anticipate a continuation of this trend, and an opportunity to create coalitions to address injustices. Between 2015 and 2020, 22% of U.S. cities were majority-minority, […]
  • ARPA funds
    Spending American Rescue Plan Act funds: A primer for municipalities
    The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion legislative package that includes funding for states, local governments and tribal nations to respond to the economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While initially restricted, subsequent guidance from the federal government has expanded what those funds can be used for. […]
  • New York City, New York
    Report: While remote work is causing offices to empty out, walkable cities are still in high demand
    Given the reliance on vehicular transportation in the United States, some American cities historically haven’t prioritized being walkable in past planning and or design. But amid an unprecedented shift in the economy toward remote work, those that have are increasingly desirable for prospective residents. A new report from Smart Growth American and Places Platform, “Foot Traffic […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • North Texas alliance partners with Marketplace.city on smart government solutions
  • Harris County deploys next-generation security in 150 public buildings
  • Prioritizing rapid restore leads to stronger ransomware attack recovery
  • Today’s infrastructure needs greater than roads and bridges - It’s time to face our digital connectiveness

White papers


Modernizing government services for today’s resident expectations

24th January 2023

Preparing Your Community Now for the Next Generation of Older Adults

18th October 2022

Helping Government Fleets Achieve Their Goals

30th September 2022
view all

Webinars


How To: Evaluate Digital Government Service Delivery Technologies

23rd January 2023

Using Technology to Enhance Communications

29th November 2022

Learn the benefits of transforming and automating your Contract Management process

4th November 2022
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


Report: While remote work is causing offices to empty out, walkable cities are still in high demand

26th January 2023

10 American cities with a great downtown

24th January 2023

Miami leads the way in FT-Nikkei ranking of best U.S. cities for foreign companies

20th January 2023
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient dlvr.it/ShYNcx

27th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

Shifting city demographics present an opportunity to build coalitions, address inequality dlvr.it/ShYMMm

27th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

Spending American Rescue Plan Act funds: A primer for municipalities dlvr.it/ShXzvl

27th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

Report: While remote work is causing offices to empty out, walkable cities are still in high demand dlvr.it/ShVhBW

26th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

Managing landslides along road corridors using remote sensing dlvr.it/ShTpL6

26th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

Report: Prioritizing neighborhood infill, expanding transit options increases neighborhood resilience dlvr.it/ShRrFM

25th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

10 American cities with a great downtown dlvr.it/ShNxXH

24th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

With a few strategies and tools, public procurement directors can recruit new, diverse staffers dlvr.it/ShNnj4

24th January 2023

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.