Washington, D.C.- The Office of Personnel Management is focused on helping federal agencies understand and implement initiatives including telework and alternative work schedules, Deputy Associate Director Daniel A. Green told legislators this week. Green, appearing before the House Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and Agency Organization, Committee on Government Reform, focused on telework and its potential to reduce the need for employees to commute.

"President Bush demonstrated his commitment that all federal agencies should maximize their conservation of gasoline and diesel fuel by directing agencies to conserve natural gas, electricity, gasoline and diesel fuel to the maximum extent consistent with the effective discharge of public responsibilities," Green said. "The Office of Personnel Management plays a key role in helping federal agencies conserve those resources through telework and other human capital flexibilities."

In the wake of soaring fuel prices after Hurricane Katrina, OPM Director Linda M. Springer issued a Memorandum to Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies highlighting the human capital flexibilities available to meet the President's directive. Flexibilities include telework, which reduces the need for employees to commute, and Alternative Work Schedule programs, which enable compressed work schedules that allow employees to fulfill their biweekly work requirements in fewer than 10 workdays. OPM partners with the General Services Administration to promote telework through a telework Listserve that communicates information, guidance, news and events to more than 1,000 subscribers throughout the federal government. OPM also provides agencies with individualized guidance and technical support through on-sight visits, helping agencies enhance and further develop their telework programs.

"Taken all together, use of human capital flexibility measures available to agencies could substantially reduce the impact of the fuel costs on employees, and reduce overall fuel consumption," said Green.