Technology

When NOT to telework

During a Shutdown: non-essential teleworkers unplug!

Federal News Network Staff

February 28, 2011 4:00 am

< a min read

In a shutdown, just because you can work from outside the office doesn’t mean you should, writes Jolie Lee on FederalNewsRadio.com.

That means even if you are not in the office, you can’t work on your smartphones, laptops or other devices.

The Office of Personnel Management explicitly says federal employees cannot volunteer to work unpaid during a furlough.

Technology has made working remotely much easier compared with the mid-1990s during the last partial government shutdown.

But the ability to work remotely will not exempt you from being furloughed, said Alan Balutis, the senior director for Cisco’s Business Solutions Group and a former chief information officer at the Commerce Department.

“Certain personnel will be deemed essential, and they will remain on duty. Others that are determined to be non-essential and are part of the shutdown are under law prohibited from continuing to work or even to volunteer their time,” Balutis said. “I’m sure many will do so regardless.”

This desire to work “reflects the dedication and commitment to mission and service to the public that’s an aspect of much of our public service then and now,” Balutis said.