New bill proposes ending remote work for federal workers

Federal remote work bill proposal overview:

• Who: Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, has introduced a bill that would end opportunities for federal employees to work remotely.
• Why: Comer says remote work has caused significant delays for certain services, including passport applications, veterans assistance and tax refunds.
• Where: The bill was proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., has introduced a bill proposing to end remote work for federal employees, Law360 reports.

The bill is called the Stopping Home Office Work’s Unproductive Problems Act of 2023, or the SHOW UP Act, and would require federal agencies and departments to end their telework policies for their employees. The proposed bill also requires federal agencies to compile reports about how remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic affected them.

Comer says the federal telework policy resulted in significant delays for services such as passport applications, veterans assistance and tax refunds.

SHOW UP Act will reverse policies put in place during COVID-19 pandemic

The federal remote-work policy was implemented as part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. The bill would require federal agencies, within 30 days of the bill’s enactment, to reinstate the remote-work policies that were in effect before Dec. 31, 2019.

Within six months of enactment of the SHOW UP Act, federal agencies must provide Congress with a report showing how employees working remotely affected their costs and their ability to provide customer service.

Federal agencies that want to continue or expand their remote-work policies must show that telework has a “substantial positive” effect on their mission and that it would lower their costs. 

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.; Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla.; and Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas.

Last year, the United States was reportedly ranked as one of the top three countries for remote work, along with Germany and Denmark.

Have you been able to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic? Tell us what you think of the GOP’s proposal for federal workers in the comments!

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