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Get a life, lose the commute!
A: There are some good alternatives to driving into work on your own. I would strongly recommend checking into carpools and vanpools. You can go into the Commuter Connections website - www.commuterconnections.org - and read more about this. This service connects riders with carpools and vanpools for free. In addition, you might check into the Virginia Railway Express at www.vre.org and consider riding the VRE train to work. There is a Broad Run Station just outside of Manassas which is much closer to our area. The parking is quite extensive.Q: My wife and I are attorneys living in Warrenton but, unfortunately, not working here. We were intrigued with your article on telework. I noticed that you were employed at the Department of Justice. We are wondering if you know whether or not DOJ allows attorneys to telework?
A: Yes, as the Department's Telework Manager, I regularly responded to that question from individual attorneys, law firms, and various Bar Associations! The Department of Justice considers attorneys eligible to telework within the confines of their duties and their organization's telework policy. The agency has allowed both appellate and trial attorneys to telework - many have successfully done so for years. More information on the DOJ telework program can be found on the DOJ worklife website: www.usdoj.gov/jmd/ps/worklife.html. In addition, a great book to read on telework and how it benefits attorneys is: Telecommuting for Lawyers by Nicole Belson Goluboff.
Q: You didn't mention saving money on child care as a benefit of telework. Can't an employee have their kids at home when they are working in a home office? Wouldn't that save money and time?
A: You are right that being able to telework can yield savings in child care costs and the time a child is in daycare. However, many organizations are very reluctant to allow employees to telework when they have children at home, unless a caregiver is present. This primarily has to do with the potential for interruptions and distractions which can result in the work not getting done as well or at all. Usually, it is permissible to have school age children at home when you are working there. They don't require the attention that infants and toddlers do - although for those of us who have experienced life with teenagers that's an arguable point!
Q: I was surprised by your assertion that a supervisor should be given 120 days advance notice of an employee's intent to telework. Isn't that a bit excessive?!
A: It sure is! Actually, that was a print error and I'm glad you asked. The 120 days mentioned in my article has to do with the time that should be allowed for a new telework arrangement to be tested before a manager makes the final decision to permit it long term. It takes several weeks for everybody involved to get used to the telework schedule and to decide if it is beneficial. As far as the time it takes to establish a telework arrangement, you can expect a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks of advance planning. This includes the time required for submitting your request, discussing it with your boss, and getting your home office ready to go before you actually start teleworking.
Kathryn Kadilak can be reached at Strategic WorkLife Solutions, LLC. The phone number is (540) 878-2152 and the e-mail is kkadilak@msn.com .
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