Is there anything more American than telecommuting? Combining our twin national passions of getting ahead in business and watching Divorce Court at 1 o'clock on a Wednesday afternoon, working from home has become the preferred mode of operation for several businesses large and small. You may soon be able to count the federal government among them.

With the recent passage of the $787 billion stimulus package the federal government is preparing for its largest workforce expansion in decades. The pros and cons of this expansion are up for debate. What isn't debatable is that logistically speaking the government is going to have to figure out a way to physically manage all of these new employees.

Speaking to Federal News Radio earlier this week John Palguta, Vice President for Policy at the Partnership for Public Service, said that many federal agencies may turn to telecommuting as a means to avoid office overcrowding. Palguta told hosts Tom Temin and Jane Norris that "[The] bottom line is we're going to be seeing more federal employees looking for a place to work," he goes on to add that "Teleworking is not you're either at home in your bunny slippers or at the office." Of course Dick Cheney spent eight years wearing bunny slippers at the office, but let's not split hairs here.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the U.S. General Services Administration recently launched Telework.gov, a website designed for government employees looking for more information on telecommuting efforts. The site offers a pretty handy guide to the general teleworking questions asked by coordinators, managers, and employees, as well as access to studies and statistics on the subject of teleworking. One of the site's main features is access to the 2008 Status of Telework in the Federal Government report to Congress. The 49 page report covers everything from the benefits and drawbacks of telework to detailed statistics on every federal agency's teleworking program.

Aside from the practical aspects of telework, there are greater consequences not instantly notable. Could more telecommuting have an effect on rush hour gridlock on the Beltway, easing both traffic and pollution it inevitably causes? It is entirely possible. What about helping out in the home lives of federal workers who love what they do but would still like to see more of their families? It isn't out of the question. Ranging from the environment and transportation to improved family lives, the pros of teleworking are numerous. Of course its not all barefoot staff meetings and beginning your workday before you've showered. There are serious questions about teleworking's impact on productivity and the general effectiveness of workers who choose the telework option. The Status Report eases many of these concerns by pointing out that the good in telework outweighs the bad, but it is still something that must be considered by supervisors thinking about initiating some level of telework.

So what does all this mean for federal workers? It is hard to tell since the teleworking question must be faced on an agency-by-agency basis. Smaller government operations strapped for space might have to seriously consider the measure, while larger nationwide operations probably won't see very much. It is somehow easier to picture slightly more telecommuting taking place at the Office of Management and Budget (not that that's any fly-by-night operation) than, say, the Secret Service. So if you've had just about enough of running to catch your morning Metro or having the girl in the next cubicle over decide she simply must ask you your opinion on Jessica Simpson's waistline, well then maybe now is a good time to broach the subject of telework with your supervisor. Of course you might want to leave the bunny slippers at home.

Also Interesting:

[+] Greening the Gov: Is teleworking worth the effort?

[+] Dear Bureau Pat: I'm pregnant, on bed-rest, and want to work; can I telework?

[+] The federal workforce of tomorrow