Who pays the expense of setting up a Federal teleworkers office?
It all depends on the organization you work for and the nature of your telework arrangement that is, the frequency and consistency of it. Another factor to consider is whether or not your position is deemed “essential,” whereby you are expected to continue working in a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) situation. Visit the Federal government’s telework Web site (www.telework.gov) to review the laws Congress has passed that permit the Federal government to pay for installation of phone lines, Internet connectivity, and other telework-related expenses. Further, the site includes the name and contact information for your agency’s Telework Coordinator, who can help you understand your agency’s specific telework programs. As a general rule, if you telework on a regular basis or will telework during a COOP emergency, agencies will furnish a government laptop or desktop computer and will pay for a dedicated phone line in your home for business purposes. If you telework full-time, such as m
