Telework Bill Passes House

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Published: February 22, 2023

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Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) chair of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee introduced, and the House passed, the Stopping Home Office Work’s Unproductive Problems Act (H.R. 139, the SHOW UP Act) which intends to make federal agencies’ remote work policies more strict. The legislation would require agencies to go back to telework policies in effect on December 31, 2019. It also requires a study of “how telework during the pandemic impacted agencies’ missions and customer service.”

“The idea that federal employees engaging in telework have not been working during the pandemic is a misperception,” said the committee’s ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).

He continued that “the private sector is actually also increasing its use of telework on a permanent basis, citing a study that found 82% of companies will work in a hybrid environment moving forward.” However, Chair Comer pointed to backlogs for tax refunds, passport applications and veteran’s assistance as examples of the downside to teleworking. He said, “The federal government exists to serve the American people and these substantial delays for basic services are unacceptable.”

The Senate is unlikely to bring up this legislation and any telework agreements that PASS represented employees have now remain in place.