Who pays for any increase in home utility expenses incurred by employees as a result of Telework?
Answer – Work-at-home arrangements may increase an employee’s home utility costs. Balanced against these increases are potential savings to the employee resulting from reduced commuting, child care (during the period the employee would otherwise be commuting to and from work), meals, and clothing expenses. Potential cost and savings to the employee and the Government cannot be viewed in isolation from each other. An agency may not use appropriated funds to pay for items of personal expenses unless there is specific statutory authority.
