Lawmakers are exploring telework options for federal employees past the pandemic, as the next generation of civil servants gravitates toward the private sector in large part due to remote working benefits and other flexible job perks.
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform convened on December 1st to discuss attracting and retaining that younger demographic of employees, specifically exploring the benefits of telework for government jobs.
Spearheaded by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who serves as committee chairman, the hearing referenced national data revealing that roughly 30% of federal employees are over 55, implying a large portion of the public workforce is looking to retire within the next decade.
Filling this void will require the government to take pages out of the private sector’s playbook to attract and retain employees. Some of the improvements Connolly mentioned include a streamlined hiring process, competitive wages, and a robust internship program to help young workers seamlessly secure jobs on the Hill and in other government agencies.
Many of his arguments favouring telework expansion hinged on remote work corresponding to increases in employee productivity.
Source:
“Preliminary findings show that the move to telework largely increased employee productivity”
“A March 2021 Department of Defense Inspector General survey of more than 56,000 personnel found that 91.1% of employees said their productivity either remained the same or improved while teleworking during the pandemic,”
Connolly said during his opening remarks.
Source:
Comments