Teleworking Brown Bag LunchTeleworking Brown Bag Lunch

DENR Manager’s ForumDENR Manager’s ForumSeptember 12, 2006September 12, 2006

IntroductionIntroduction Bethany Rose Goodwin, Environmental Bethany Rose Goodwin, Environmental

Specialist, Division of Environmental Health, Specialist, Division of Environmental Health, Public Water Supply Section, DENR Public Water Supply Section, DENR Sustainability Team ChairSustainability Team Chair

As our society evolves, Teleworking will be a As our society evolves, Teleworking will be a critical tool for ensuring DENR’s ability to fulfill critical tool for ensuring DENR’s ability to fulfill our mission statement of “conserving and our mission statement of “conserving and protecting North Carolina’s natural resources protecting North Carolina’s natural resources and maintaining an environment of high quality, and maintaining an environment of high quality, for the health, well being, and benefit of all”.for the health, well being, and benefit of all”.

Teleworking is a flexible tool to aid in achieving compliance Teleworking is a flexible tool to aid in achieving compliance with DENR’s Strategic goals such as:with DENR’s Strategic goals such as:

- employee retention improvement.- employee retention improvement.

- the flexibility and pollutant reduction aspects make it an - the flexibility and pollutant reduction aspects make it an example of achieving DENR”s Vision through “innovation, example of achieving DENR”s Vision through “innovation, teamwork and partnership, -- as well as DENR’s Code of teamwork and partnership, -- as well as DENR’s Code of Conduct for employee respect, communication, Conduct for employee respect, communication, accountability, innovation, teamwork and work ethics.accountability, innovation, teamwork and work ethics.

With thousands of DENR employees commuting everyday, With thousands of DENR employees commuting everyday, embracing teleworking will demonstrate that DENR is embracing teleworking will demonstrate that DENR is willing to practices what it preaches.willing to practices what it preaches.

History- How The Sustainability Team became involvedHistory- How The Sustainability Team became involved

From 1999-2000 DENR conducted a Pilot Study involving 5 agencies, 64 From 1999-2000 DENR conducted a Pilot Study involving 5 agencies, 64 participants, and 14 job typesparticipants, and 14 job types

Clean Air Rules of 2004 were signed into law revising the 8-hour Ozone Clean Air Rules of 2004 were signed into law revising the 8-hour Ozone standard to 0.08 parts per million (ppm).standard to 0.08 parts per million (ppm).

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to designate as Non-attainment, any area The Clean Air Act requires EPA to designate as Non-attainment, any area that was violating this standard based on the 3 most recent years of ambient that was violating this standard based on the 3 most recent years of ambient air quality data. Unfortunately, 32 counties in NC were designated as non-air quality data. Unfortunately, 32 counties in NC were designated as non-attainment areas. Hat’s off to Air Quality, as their Specialists report that attainment areas. Hat’s off to Air Quality, as their Specialists report that most areas will reach attainment by their scheduled date! The data shows most areas will reach attainment by their scheduled date! The data shows that the Triangle should reach attainment this year! that the Triangle should reach attainment this year!

This encouraging news This encouraging news has nothas not occurred by LUCK, by cooperative occurred by LUCK, by cooperative weather conditions, or by doing things “the way we’ve always done weather conditions, or by doing things “the way we’ve always done them”, but by promoting and educating industry, government them”, but by promoting and educating industry, government agencies, and the public on Best Management Practices and about agencies, and the public on Best Management Practices and about fuel and commuting alternatives. fuel and commuting alternatives.

Response to Non-attainment Response to Non-attainment DesignationDesignation

NC legislature passed bills that enhanced and NC legislature passed bills that enhanced and expanded auto emissions testing in 48 counties by expanded auto emissions testing in 48 counties by 2006.2006.

2004, DENR became a formal member of the 2004, DENR became a formal member of the EPA/USDOT-Best Workplace Practices for EPA/USDOT-Best Workplace Practices for Commuters program, (of which teleworking is an Commuters program, (of which teleworking is an option)option)

DENR Sustainability Team creates a sub-team to DENR Sustainability Team creates a sub-team to explore implementation of a formal teleworking explore implementation of a formal teleworking policy and procedure for DENRpolicy and procedure for DENR

Sustainability Team Report-1Sustainability Team Report-1 The need to reduce emissions by 20% is discussed at May 2004 The need to reduce emissions by 20% is discussed at May 2004

team meeting.team meeting.

Discussion led to a simplistic solution; to Telework 1out of 5 days a Discussion led to a simplistic solution; to Telework 1out of 5 days a week for all DENR employees to help reduce emissions 20%. Now, week for all DENR employees to help reduce emissions 20%. Now, bearing in mind that the solution is more complex than that since Air bearing in mind that the solution is more complex than that since Air Quality specialists state that only 50% of emissions are due to Quality specialists state that only 50% of emissions are due to mobile sources; efforts by DENR to set an example by employing mobile sources; efforts by DENR to set an example by employing alternative work practices will not solve the emissions problem alternative work practices will not solve the emissions problem entirely, but it represents one innovative approach that can entirely, but it represents one innovative approach that can immediately impact our environment in a positive manner. immediately impact our environment in a positive manner.

DAQ and DWM have already successfully implemented teleworking DAQ and DWM have already successfully implemented teleworking within their divisions. within their divisions.

Joe Stroup DENR-HR was consulted about a proposed DENR Joe Stroup DENR-HR was consulted about a proposed DENR Teleworking Policy from previous years that he had researched.Teleworking Policy from previous years that he had researched.

Sustainability Team Report -2Sustainability Team Report -2

The telework subteam revised the preliminary The telework subteam revised the preliminary report and consulted with HR for final review.report and consulted with HR for final review.

HR presents final draft to Deputy Secretary BentonHR presents final draft to Deputy Secretary Benton

Secretary Ross signed the DENR Teleworking Secretary Ross signed the DENR Teleworking Policy and Procedure, effective July 1, 2005.Policy and Procedure, effective July 1, 2005.

What Can Teleworking Do For YouWhat Can Teleworking Do For You

Teleworking will provide managers with a program Teleworking will provide managers with a program for enhancing employee productivity, realizing for enhancing employee productivity, realizing potential utility savings, and improving employee potential utility savings, and improving employee morale and retention.morale and retention.

Enable managers to meet programmatic goals, Enable managers to meet programmatic goals, through a formal, systematic and flexible structure through a formal, systematic and flexible structure based on measured performance.based on measured performance.

What can this do for youWhat can this do for you

Public Employers have a special obligation to Public Employers have a special obligation to insure that employees and resources are being insure that employees and resources are being used efficiently and productively; teleworking has used efficiently and productively; teleworking has proven to increase both efficiency and productivity proven to increase both efficiency and productivity and also has the potential, and also has the potential, if instituted proactivelyif instituted proactively, , to provide vital continuity of operations during to provide vital continuity of operations during emergency situations or pandemic outbreaks. Our emergency situations or pandemic outbreaks. Our citizens expect us to be on the job, particularly in citizens expect us to be on the job, particularly in an emergency; we are the “they” people are an emergency; we are the “they” people are talking about when they ask “What are “They” talking about when they ask “What are “They” doing to fix this problem.doing to fix this problem.

What Can Teleworking Do For YouWhat Can Teleworking Do For You Housing and Urban Development Chief Information Officer Housing and Urban Development Chief Information Officer

(CIO) Lisa Schlosser credits teleworking with allowing her (CIO) Lisa Schlosser credits teleworking with allowing her operations to continue following the devastation of Hurricane operations to continue following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. She states thatKatrina. She states that

“ “Fear of Change and of introducing new ways of Fear of Change and of introducing new ways of doing business are the main barriers to teleworking doing business are the main barriers to teleworking today.”today.”

Studies have found improvement in recruitment, leave usage, Studies have found improvement in recruitment, leave usage, productivity, as well as reduced overcrowding and office productivity, as well as reduced overcrowding and office space costs. As we look toward new DENR facilities space costs. As we look toward new DENR facilities teleworking could benefit us in reducing the age old parking teleworking could benefit us in reducing the age old parking problem that we continue to struggle with.problem that we continue to struggle with.

The American Management Association reports cost of The American Management Association reports cost of absenteeism were reduced by 63%, an average of absenteeism were reduced by 63%, an average of $2000 saved per every employee.$2000 saved per every employee.

Linda Koontz, Director of Information Management with Linda Koontz, Director of Information Management with the General Accounting Office reports that the US House the General Accounting Office reports that the US House Committee on Government Reform recently made clear Committee on Government Reform recently made clear that “ the threat of a pandemic underscores the that “ the threat of a pandemic underscores the importance of agencies having robust telework programs importance of agencies having robust telework programs that can facilitate the social distancing needed in such an that can facilitate the social distancing needed in such an event. Agencies must, however make the necessary event. Agencies must, however make the necessary preparations to enable them to use telework effectively preparations to enable them to use telework effectively during an emergency, including testing their capabilities.”during an emergency, including testing their capabilities.”

Who TeleworksWho Teleworks US Dept of JusticeUS Dept of Justice US Dept of LaborUS Dept of Labor US Nuclear Regulatory CommissionUS Nuclear Regulatory Commission Housing and Urban DevelopmentHousing and Urban Development Social Security AdministrationSocial Security Administration Federal Aviation Administration-22,000 teleworkFederal Aviation Administration-22,000 telework Securities Exchange Commission-30% telework, all Securities Exchange Commission-30% telework, all

employees are eligibleemployees are eligible NC DENR- telework allowed with supervisor discretionNC DENR- telework allowed with supervisor discretion States of Arizona, FloridaStates of Arizona, Florida Georgia, Virginia-offer businesses tax incentives to allow Georgia, Virginia-offer businesses tax incentives to allow

their workforce to teleworktheir workforce to telework US Patent OfficeUS Patent Office

Just to name a few!Just to name a few!

Telework Info SourcesTelework Info Sources

Telework success storiesTelework success stories www.telecommuteexchange.comwww.telecommuteexchange.com www.midatlantictelework.orgwww.midatlantictelework.org www.itaa.orgwww.itaa.org http://bestplacestowork.orghttp://bestplacestowork.org http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06713.pdfhttp://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06713.pdf www.teleworkva.orgwww.teleworkva.org www.gms.state.ga.us/employee/telework.aspwww.gms.state.ga.us/employee/telework.asp

Telework Security InfoTelework Security Info www.csialliance.orgwww.csialliance.org www.actweb.orgwww.actweb.org www.workingfromanywhere.orgwww.workingfromanywhere.org http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-46/sp800-46.pdfhttp://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-46/sp800-46.pdf https://www.csialliance.org/resources/pdfs/CSIA_Telework.pdfhttps://www.csialliance.org/resources/pdfs/CSIA_Telework.pdf