Obama Administration pushing telework as bill is set for House

The Obama administration is such a strong supporter of allowing federal employees to work from home that it even allowed a government official to be sworn in via telephone.

Massive snowstorms even inspired President Obama to issue stern orders to John Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management. "The president made it clear to me that he doesn't want snow, nature, or any other cause to be able to stop our government," Berry told the conference. "Since OPM doesn't control the weather or the plows, telework is the only way to achieve the goal that the president very clearly set," Berry said. The wider use and acceptance of telework is very much on the verge of reality. The Senate unanimously passed telework legislation last month and the House could do so during the lame-duck session. The bill would require federal agencies to appoint telework managers and incorporate the option into contingency operations. Once it's passed, Berry and others plan to make the option automatic for all federal employees who could do their jobs away from the office.