SUPERVISORY
CHECKLIST
FOR
MANAGING
TELECOMMUTERS
Prepared by:
Labor Relations and Workforce Effectiveness Service Center
Associate Managing Director – Human Resources Management
Office of Managing Director
Federal Communications Commission
Supervisory Checklist
for
Managing Telecommuters
I. Preparing the Telecommuting Site
A. Setting Up a Telecommuting Site
¨
Office Space¨
Computer location¨
Desk¨
Chair¨
Phone¨
Bookshelves¨
File Drawers¨
Quiet Work EnvironmentB. Having Materials and Reference Guidelines on Hand
¨
Work Documents¨
Case Files¨
Code of Federal Regulations¨
United States Code¨
Auction Guides¨
Policy Statements¨
Directives¨
Standard Operating Procedures¨
Important Phone Numbers¨
Important E-Mail Addresses
II. Preliminary Work Planning
A. Gather Appropriate Work for the Telecommuting Site
¨
Writing Work¨
Editing Work¨
Telephone Work¨
Computer WorkB. When Practical, Defer Work Suitable for the Telecommuting Work Site for Days When Employee Telecommutes
C. Remind Telecommuters to Plan their Work so that Necessary Tasks that Can be Accomplished Only at the Official Work Site do Not Arise While They are Telecommuting
III. Establishing Communications
A. Telephone Numbers
¨
Obtain the phone number of the employee’s telecommuting site¨
Encourage telecommuters to give their telephone numbers to their peers, customers, and stakeholders¨
Ask telecommuters to make the phone number at their telecommuting site available to others through voice-mail or e-mail. Remind telecommuters to check their voice-mail messages frequently¨
Ensure telecommuters have a voice-mail message advising callers that they are telecommuting and where and how they can be reachedB. E-Mail
¨
Remind telecommuters to check their e-mail messages frequently¨
Recommend that telecommuters establish e-mail "groups" that they can use to give advance notice to superiors, peers, customers, and stakeholders when they are telecommuting¨
Ask telecommuters to establish an appropriate e-mail "rule" advising people that they are telecommuting and where and how they can be reachedC. Conference Calls
¨
Learn how to set up telephone conference calls for the purpose of allowing telecommuters to participate in meetings that take place in conference rooms¨
Make use of ordinary speakerphone capability for small meetings that take place in the officeD. Other Arrangements
¨
Don’t hesitate to call and/or e-mail telecommuters at the beginning of their tours of duty to confirm that communications are established¨
Remind telecommuters to post a note on their office doors or on their computer screens advising walk-ins that they are telecommuting and where and how they can be reachedIV. Establishing Expectations
A. Make Sure that Telecommuters Have a Clear Understanding of What They Will be Working on When they Telecommute
¨
Identify what work will be accomplished¨
Ensure there is enough work available to keep the telecommuter busy for eight hoursB. Establish Performance Requirements or Expectations
¨
Set quantity goals¨
Set timeliness goals¨
Make it clear to telecommuters that they are responsible for meeting all existing performance standards, even while they are telecommuting
V. Following-Up
A. Meet With Telecommuters Early When They are Next in the Office and Review What They Accomplished
B. Let Telecommuters Know if Your Performance Expectations Have or Have Not Been Met
10/12/10