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* _I1_ J	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency	18-P-0024
f	^	Office of Inspector General	October 16,2017
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'	At a Glance
Why We Did This Review
We conducted this review to
determine whether (1) U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) telework policies
are consistent with U.S. Office
of Personnel Management
(OPM) guidance, (2) managers
received the required training to
supervise teleworking
employees, and (3) managers
know of and have access to
teleworking tools.
The Telework Enhancement
Act of 2010 supports the
development and advancement
of telework by outlining a
number of requirements to
ensure the appropriate policies
and trained personnel are in
place to achieve effective
telework programs. The act
directed OPM to provide
agencies with policy and
guidance for telework. OPM
issued its guidance in 2011.
This report addresses the
following:
• Operating efficiently and
effectively.
EPA Telework Program Is Consistent With
U.S. Office of Personnel Management Guidance
What We Found
EPA telework policies are consistent with OPM's
guidance. We surveyed EPA managers and supervisors
and found that 97 percent of respondents had received
the required training to supervise their teleworking
employees. The results of our evaluation showed that
the EPA has implemented significant steps to ensure
that those managers and supervisors who have not yet
received the training come into compliance.
The EPA's telework
policies have
resulted in nearly all
managers being
trained to supervise
their teleworking
employees.
Our survey results also showed that EPA managers and supervisors use various
agency-provided tools and methods to monitor the work accomplished by their
teleworking staff, including work meetings, telephone calls, emails and business
software. Some survey respondents also submitted written suggestions
describing what additional training, tools and policies they believe are needed to
improve the EPA's telework program. We grouped these suggestions into six
categories of requested enhancements:
•	Better communication tools.
•	Consistent telework policy agencywide.
•	Expanded telework training for staff.
•	Need for American Federation of Government Employees policy
ratification.
•	Outcome-based management.
•	More flexibility for managers.
In response to our discussion document, the Office of Administration and
Resources Management provided a response to the six categories of program-
enhancing suggestions submitted by EPA managers and supervisors. There are
no recommendations in this report.
Send all inquiries to our public
affairs office at (202) 566-2391
or visit www.epa.aov/oia.
Listing of OIG reports.

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