Program Basics For Agency Coordinators

The State of Arizona Telework Program relies heavily upon agency travel reduction coordinators to make sure that the same program elements that made telework a success for the State in 1989 continue to protect the program in 2007 and beyond.  As Aesop rightly said, “familiarity breeds contempt.”  We can become so familiar with telework that we cast aside well intended program formalities and risk endangering the very freedoms we worked so hard to engender.

These four key program elements assure managers, supervisors, coworkers and customers that our State teleworkers are no less accessible, no less productive, and no less professional than the office bound employee.   These elements are built into the program materials and each element must be monitored to assure continual program success.  In review, the program employs:

• Selection Criteria (shown here in the form of a self assessment survey) to make sure we select the right kind of worker, with the right kind of work and the right home environment to be successful as a teleworker. 

• State Policies to answer the basic administrative concerns which apply to all teleworkers regarding personnel, risk management and legal issues.  The state policies are also found in the back of the State’s telework training workbook.

• Telework Training (workbook, video and Telework Agreement) to lead each teleworker and their supervisor through the state policies and help them address myriad individual concerns about working remotely.  At the successful culmination of the training, both the supervisor and teleworker sign a formal Telework Agreement that outlines how work will be done on telework days. 

• Management by results to shift the focus from how much work the employee looks like he or she is accomplishing to how much he actually is accomplishing.

As long as these basic elements of the State of Arizona Telework Program are solidly in place in each agency, we significantly reduce the risk of taking our telework privileges for granted.

Please take care to see that all the elements described above are a formal part of your agency’s telework program.  If for any reason you need clarification or assistance, please contact David Oihus, Telework Program Administrator at 602 542-3630.