A recently introduced bill would require federal workers to spend at least 60 percent of their work hours in the office and ban most full-time remote work arrangements.
We’ve rounded up articles from SHRM Online and other outlets to provide more context on the news.
Senators Question Remote Workers’ Productivity
Sens. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., introduced the Back to Work Act on May 7. The legislation limits remote work to 40 percent of the workdays in any given pay period, with certain exceptions. The bill also would require each federal agency to review and reauthorize each employee’s remote work agreement on an annual basis and require agencies to monitor employees’ remote work productivity.
Federal officials have lauded remote work in the past as a key recruitment tool and a way to improve the federal workforce’s geographic diversity.
Ongoing Struggle
The Biden administration has been trying to bring more of the federal workforce back to the office since the COVID-19 public health emergency was declared to be over in 2023.
Return-to-Office Policies Are Evolving
More employers are asking—or requiring—that workers return to the office either full time or on a hybrid schedule. The needs to collaborate and maintain workplace culture are the top two reasons cited, according to a SHRM survey.
SHRM Return-to-Office Resources
Whether through a full-time onsite requirement or a hybrid approach, employers are seeking ways to meet the needs of the business and remain competitive while balancing the requirements of their workforce. This SHRM resource page has the latest news and updates as well as critical members-only tools.
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