Policy

  

International Trade Administration
Telework Appendices


ITA Jobs/Functions That Can be Performed
at an Alternate Work Site

Many jobs in ITA have duties and responsibilities that can be considered appropriate for telework on a regular basis. A final decision on this issue must be based on an assessment of the full scope of elements, to include the major duties of positions; the need for face-to-face contact with supervisors, other employees, clients, and the general public; need for access to materials which cannot be moved from the main office; special facilities or equipment necessary that could be cost-prohibitive or impossible to duplicate; the portability of supplies and equipment; and the ability to perform the work away from the main work site.

Although a small portion of ITA jobs do not lend themselves to regular telework arrangements, this does not preclude the assignment of duties on an episodic, periodic, or even a one-time basis that can be performed at an alternate work site. The following is a guide for supervisors and managers in deciding whether jobs/duties are suitable for telework arrangements.

Duties/tasks that normally could be successfully performed off-site:

  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Reviewing
  • Researching
  • Analyzing
  • Editing
  • Scheduling
  • Planning
  • Communicating by Telephone, Fax, PC
  • Computer programming, data base development, data entry, word processing

Duties/tasks that normally would not be performed at an offsite location:

  • Computer Help Desk/Troubleshooting
  • Computer Operation
  • Mail/Message Delivery
  • Files Maintenance
  • Technical Information Services
  • Archive Maintenance
  • Motor Vehicle Operation
  • Communications Relay Operation

Supervisors over positions involving the latter types of duties and functions should look at work functions as broadly as possible to determine whether employees occupying these positions can perform certain duties at an alternate work site. Care must be exercised, however, to ensure that employees are not routinely given duties outside the parameters of their officially assigned duties and responsibilities that could affect the classification of their positions, when such duties are assigned as a means to participate in telework.