Telework, also called telecommuting, is an innovative tool for managing an organization more efficiently and increasing the productivity, morale, and retention of employees. Telework is a win-win for the employer and the employee!

Each bureau in Commerce has a telework point of contact that can give you more information about telework in your organization.

Telework Plan

The purpose of the Department of Commerce (Department) Telework and Remote Work Plan (Policy), December 2021 version, is to provide broad, Department-wide, policy guidance and direction for bureaus and/or operating units to use when designing, developing, and administering their specific telework and remote work implementation plan(s). The Policy demonstrates the full range of flexibilities and options available to management for the workforce. This Policy applies to all Department employees except for those employed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps.

Additionally, posted here, is the Department’s Information Memorandum for Department Leadership on Return to Office (Memo).  The purpose of the Memo is to provide background and baseline guidance for the Department regarding Return to Office and adapting updated telework programs. It envisions a Department that embraces the many benefits of in-person engagement and teambuilding, while maintaining the advantages of a virtual environment. This document is the implementation guide for the Policy.

The intent of this two-part posting is to help Department bureaus and/or operating units leverage telework and remote work in the Department to better meet our human capital needs and optimize mission delivery. Though presented separately, these two parts should be used in conjunction with one another as a comprehensive resource intended to provide comprehensive flexible workplace guidance for Federal agencies, Telework Managing Officers (TMOs), telework program coordinators, managers, supervisors, and employees. The Policy and the Memo must be viewed in tandem and not separately, as they are intended to provide cohesive practical resources and information in evaluating how to leverage these tools to meet mission-critical needs for organizations and balance the needs of a complex workforce.

Telework and Remote Work Plan           

Information Memorandum for Department Leadership on Return to Office

OPM Guidance on Hours of Work for Telework and Remote Work Employees

Appendix A - Telework Assessment Tool

Appendix B - Telework Request – Agreement

Appendix C – Remote Work Agreement

Appendix D – Safety Checklist (Telework and Remote Work) – Home Work Space

Appendix E – Telework Agreement – Supervisor Checklist

Appendix F – Remote Worker Agreement – Supervisor Checklist

Appendix G – Optional Telework Termination Form

Coding and Certifying Telework Hours

All employees, timekeepers, and supervisors must code and certify time and attendance (T&A) accurately. An employee or their timekeeper is responsible for recording all telework time, including regular or situational, in the time and attendance system (e.g. GovTA) to reflect when and where telework occurs.

T&A is recorded and used to submit work time and leave information to the Department’s payroll/personnel service provider, the National Finance Center, for salary payment.

The Department reports telework data on a regular basis to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). OPM and OMB use telework data from Agencies to make government-wide decisions.

OPM has defined that when reporting telework hours, the Department is not to include any part of mobile work, such as work completed during official travel, commuting, or working from a customer site.

Coding Telework in GoVTA – Employees
Transaction Codes (TC) “01 – Telework” and “01 – Remote Work” and their variants, are not interchangeable. Please review and utilize the following codes to ensure time and attendance (T&A) is coded accurately.

• TC “01 – Regular Base Pay” – This code should be used when working at an agency site and when performing any part of mobile work including: temporary duty (TDY) or official travel, work completed while commuting, and work completed at a customer site or similar business or government location.
• TC “01 –Telework [Routine or Situational]” – These codes should be used by employees who are regularly required to report to an agency worksite and have entered into a Telework agreement to record time performing work from home or a similar location.
• TC “01 – Remote Work [Routine or Situational]” – These codes should only be used by employees who have approved Remote Work agreements and are not regularly scheduled to report to an agency worksite.

Certifying Telework Codes in GovTA – Supervisors
Prior to submission to NFC, supervisors certify T&A and leave requests online and the approved T&As are sent to the NFC for salary processing. It is imperative that supervisors certify accurate data, including the use of accurate telework and/or remote work codes. 

Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas (DETOs)

The approval of DETO arrangements is at the sole discretion of the Department of State (DOS). Based on DOS guidance, it is DOC policy that only Sponsored DETO Agreements will be considered, and the DETO must not incur any additional costs to the bureau/OU than it would otherwise cost for the employee to work at their normal location.  Individual DETOs are not authorized.  Before submitting a request for a Sponsored DETO to the DOS, the request must be approved by the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), the Office of Security (OSY), Employment and Labor Law Division/Office of the General Counsel, and OHRM.

Information on Overseas Locality Pay for Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas (DETOs)

Military Spouses and Military Caregivers

Military spouses and military caregivers are faced with frequent relocations. The utilization of telework and remote work can help address employment challenges, such as recruitment and retention, associated with employing military spouses and military caregivers. Sponsored DETOs also support military spouses and military caregivers in employment by allowing them to continue employment while being on the orders of a U.S. Government-employed spouse assigned abroad on Government orders.

Resources

• OPM Telework Page
• Telework Enhancement Act of 2010
• Work At Home/Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation