Telework & Remote Work

Telework is a work flexibility that enables eligible employees to perform their duties from an approved alternative worksite (e.g. home or telework center). Telework benefits the agency and the workforce in several ways:

• Enhances the recruitment and retention of a high-quality, diverse workforce;
• Assists in providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities;
• Ensures the continuity of operations in an emergency;
• Reduces transportation-related costs;
• Improves morale by allowing employees to balance work and personal demands; and
• Facilitates employee productivity toward mission accomplishment.

Remote work is an arrangement under which an employee is not expected to report to an agency worksite on a regular and recurring basis—for remote workers, the remote work location is their official duty station (e.g., their home).

What is the difference between remote work and telework?

The difference between telework and remote work is the employee’s duty station.

• For remote workers, the remote work location is their official duty station (e.g., their home).
• For teleworkers, their official duty station is the agency worksite (e.g., Main Interior Building), as they are expected to report to the agency worksite at the minimum, two full workdays per biweekly pay period.

For questions regarding the telework program, employees may contact their respective DOI Bureau/Office Telework & Remote Work Coordinator.