Pandemic Federal Telework Act of 2020

To require Federal agencies to permit employees to telework full-time during the public health emergency relating to COVID–19, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pandemic Federal Telework Act of 2020 2. Teleworking requirements for Federal employees (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term agency (2) the term covered period 42 U.S.C. 247d (3) the term Director (4) the term eligible employee (A) the head of the agency employing the employee has determined is eligible to telework; and (B) has not been officially disciplined for— (i) being absent without permission for more than 5 days in any calendar year; or (ii) viewing, downloading, or exchanging pornography, including child pornography, on a Federal Government computer or while performing official Federal Government duties; (5) the term employee (6) the term Secretary (7) the term telework (b) Requirements (1) In general Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 65 (A) permit eligible employees with respect to the agency to telework on a full-time basis during the covered period; and (B) review, with respect to employees of the agency for whom the agency head has not made a determination described in subsection (a)(4)(A), whether such a determination should be made. (2) Waiver The head of an agency may waive the requirements of any provision of paragraph (1) that applies with respect to an employee of the agency if the agency head determines that there is a compelling reason for the waiver that relates to the effective operation of the Federal Government. (3) Plan for future outbreaks Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in coordination with the Secretary, shall establish a policy— (A) to maximize the use of telework by the Federal workforce during a period in which there is in effect a public health emergency that the Secretary declares under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d (B) that shall be designed to be implemented before implementing any continuity of operations plan with respect to any outbreak described in subparagraph (A). 3. Technology modernization fund Section 1078(b)(3)(B) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 ( 40 U.S.C. 11301 , including by enabling or improving telework capabilities, efficiency and cybersecurity 4. Training and monitoring Section 6503(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting and supervisors managers (2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) not later than 180 days after the date on which a manager or supervisor described in paragraph (1)(B) is appointed to a position as such a manager or supervisor, the manager or supervisor has completed interactive telework training that includes instruction relating to— (A) the benefits of telework; (B) technology used by the agency to facilitate telework; (C) strategies for engaging employees who telework; (D) performance management in the virtual workplace; and (E) information and security protections for information and information systems used during telework; .

Summary: Pandemic Federal Telework Act of 2020 This bill establishes several requirements for federal agencies with respect to telework. Specifically, the bill requires each federal agency (executive, legislative, and judicial) to allow eligible employees to telework full-time during the public health emergency declared on January 31, 2020, relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). An employee is considered eligible if the employee has not received specified disciplinary action and is otherwise determined eligible by the agency. Additionally, the Office of Personnel Management must, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, develop an expansive telework policy for use in future outbreaks of infectious diseases. The bill also requires executive agencies to ensure that all new managers and supervisors receive certain training on specified aspects of telework, including the benefits of telework, the technology involved, and information security.