Federal Continuity of Operations and Telecommuting

A report from OHS shows mixed news on telecommuting and how it affects continuity of government and business.   While telecommuting presents some challenges in terms of management, supervision and productivity, it would make sense to have a workforce that is well-trained and has the technological capability to telecommute in case of a disruption.  The news that continuity of operations capability in the private sector increased by 40% (from 33% in 2007 to 46% in 2008) is significant.

Broad telecommuting adoption could ensure the continuity of government and business operations in the aftermath of a major catastrophe, or even for the duration of a minor disruptive event--such as snowstorms, tornadoes, or wildfires--and this year's survey finds mixed news on the topic of continuity planning. In the private sector, continuity of operations capability increased but still trails the feds, with 46 percent of private-sector employees indicating that they could continue working during a disruption, up from 33 percent in 2007. Consistent with a marked decrease in federal telework eligibility, federal employees' ability to continue to work remotely in the event of a natural or man-made disaster has declined significantly since 2007, with 59 percent of federal employees indicating that they could telework during a disruption, down from 75 percent in 2007.