{"id":1999081,"date":"2023-08-12T23:00:01","date_gmt":"2023-08-13T03:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-democrats-hail-telework-rewards-but-gao-analysis-not-clear-on-benefits\/"},"modified":"2023-08-12T23:05:14","modified_gmt":"2023-08-13T03:05:14","slug":"house-democrats-hail-telework-rewards-but-gao-analysis-not-clear-on-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-democrats-hail-telework-rewards-but-gao-analysis-not-clear-on-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"House Democrats praise telework rewards, but GAO analysis lacks clarity on benefits."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-democrats-hail-telework-rewards-but-gao-analysis-not-clear-on-benefits%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1999081&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Study Shows Productivity Benefits of\u200d Teleworking\u200b During Pandemic<\/h2>\n<p>Three top House Democrats are lauding a \u2063Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of teleworking as\u2064 &#8220;compelling evidence&#8221; of \u2062the productivity \u2064benefits of\u200b the practice that became more widespread during \u2064the coronavirus pandemic, \u2064even though the analysis is much more cautious on the issue.<\/p>\n<p>The GAO\u2064 researchers \u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/products\/gao-23-105999\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">concluded<\/a> that &#8220;telework generally had a positive\u2063 impact on worker \u2063productivity and firm performance in certain sectors, but methodological issues complicate \u200defforts to estimate its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/4-baseless-conspiracy-theories-the-media-continues-to-report-as-fact\/\" title=\"4 Baseless Conspiracy Theories The Media Continues To Report As Fact\">long-term impacts<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;For example, a study of a Chinese\u2063 call center found that telework \u2063increased productivity by 13 percent,&#8221; the study said. &#8220;Some \u2064studies also found that telework mitigated the\u200b negative impact of the pandemic on firm performance and the economy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/house-oversight-committee-probes-gas-administrator-over-telework-allegations-4982410\">House Oversight Committee Probes\u2062 GAS Administrator Over Telework Allegations<\/a> &#8211; 1\/17\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/opinion\/remote-telework-or-hybrid-how-about-a-raise-just-for-showing-up-4980862\">Remote, Telework, or Hybrid: How About a Raise\u2063 Just for Showing Up?<\/a> &#8211; 1\/12\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/appeals-court-dismisses-discrimination-claim-of-federal-worker-wanting-to-continue-working-from-home-5335185\">Appeals Court Dismisses Discrimination Claim of Federal Worker Wanting to Continue Working From \u2064Home<\/a> -\u200c 6\/15\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/house-oversight-panel-wants-to-know-why-federal-workers-arent-at-their-offices-5111092\">House Oversight\u2062 Panel Wants to \u2062Know Why Federal Workers Aren&#8217;t at Their Offices<\/a> -\u200b 3\/9\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/opinion\/what-if-federal-workers-never-showed-up-for-work-and-no-one-missed-them-5056538\">What If Federal\u2062 Workers Never Showed \u200dUp for Work and No One \u200cMissed Them?<\/a> &#8211; 2\/14\/2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But the researchers also cautioned that &#8220;estimating the long-term impacts of telework is difficult, \u200bhowever, because some economic effects may emerge only over time. For example, studies GAO reviewed identified potential cost savings from reduced office \u200dspace needs and potential collaboration challenges that \u2063could impact worker productivity or firm performance in the longer run.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>That\u2063 qualified conclusion did not prevent Rep. Jamie\u200b Raskin\u200d (D-Md.), the top Democrat on \u2064the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, from\u2063 claiming\u2064 the report &#8220;found that telework works.&#8221;\u200c Mr.\u2062 Raskin was one of \u2063the members of Congress to request the GAO study.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Ranking Member of the Full Committee on Oversight\u2063 and Accountability Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) speaks\u200d during a hearing with IRS \u2062whistleblowers about the Biden \u200bCriminal Investigation at the U.S. Congress in Washington on July 19, 2023. \u200d(Madalina Vasiliu\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Mr. Raskin added\u200c in a joint <a href=\"https:\/\/desaulnier.house.gov\/media-center\/press-releases\/government-watchdog-report-finds-telework-can-increase-productivity-and\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a> with two\u2063 Democratic \u2064colleagues that \u201cin a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-democrats-hail-telework-rewards-but-gao-analysis-not-clear-on-benefits\/\" title=\"House Democrats praise telework rewards, but GAO analysis lacks clarity on benefits.\">perilous national public health emergency<\/a>, telework ensured continuity in \u2063all federal agency operations and enabled federal workers to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/indiana-gov-eric-holcomb-signs-legislation-deeming-churches-essential\/\" title=\"Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb Signs Legislation Deeming Churches Essential\">provide essential services<\/a> to\u2062 the American people. It also found that, in addition to mitigating some \u2062of the harms caused by the pandemic, telework\u2062 in many cases actually\u200d increased\u2063 worker \u2062productivity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-Va.) acknowledged that the GAO report was\u2064 not an unqualified endorsement of teleworking, and he further noted that access to remote \u2064work &#8220;was\u2064 not equal across our economy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Scott said that &#8220;while additional findings \u2063from the GAO are forthcoming, this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/shotgun-discovered-near-body-of-former-clinton-aide-mark-middleton\/\" title=\"Shotgun Discovered Near Body of Former Clinton Aide Mark Middleton\">initial report shows<\/a> that telework\u2063 generally had a positive\u2064 effect on\u200d worker productivity in \u2064certain settings. However, the report also illustrates that, despite the vast \u2063public health risks for workers, access \u200dto remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic was not \u200bequal across \u200dour economy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The \u2063GAO report shows how, instead, telework was concentrated \u2062among certain\u200c workers and industry sectors,\u201d he \u200csaid.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, at the \u2064U.S. Capitol \u200din Washington, D.C., on July 29, 2020. (Drew Angerer\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Rep.\u2062 Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.),\u200c the top Democrat on the education and the workforce panel&#8217;s Health, Employment, \u200cLabor and Pensions Subcommittee, also praised\u2062 the report, saying the pandemic provided Americans the opportunity to experience &#8220;firsthand how\u2062 the flexibility and efficiency of \u2062telework could\u200c improve the quality of life for them and their families, and now \u2062we have compelling evidence that this labor model \u2063can also increase worker productivity\u200b and companies\u2019 overall performance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The California Democrat, whose district is in the San Francisco Bay area, said he believes\u200b that \u2064&#8221;as we emerge from the pandemic, we should harness and build on this knowledge to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wholly-inadequate-federal-agencies-have-no-system-to-check-whether-remote-employees-are-actually-working\/\" title=\"\u2018Wholly Inadequate\u2019: Federal Agencies Have No System To Check Whether Remote Employees Are Actually Working\">expand telework options<\/a> to benefit\u200b both the economy and \u2062working Americans, particularly lower-income and minority workers who have\u200c not had equal opportunity for \u2062this kind of work.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>What is clear from the GAO \u200danalysis is the extent to which Americans worked from home during the pandemic rather than\u2064 the office.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;The percentage of workers who worked from home\u2063 (teleworked) rose sharply between \u200c2019 and 2021. The\u200b increase\u200d was concentrated among workers with higher earnings and education and in certain occupations, according to GAO\u2019s analysis of nationally representative\u2064 survey data.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Specifically, GAO\u2019s analysis of the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) found that the estimated percentage \u2062of\u2063 workers who teleworked for any portion of\u200d an\u200b average workday\u200b increased from 24 percent in 2019 to 38 percent in\u200c 2021.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Similarly, GAO\u2019s analysis of the American Community Survey (ACS) found that the\u2063 estimated percentage of workers who primarily teleworked in the\u2062 prior work week more than tripled from \u200d5.7 percent in 2019 to 17.9 percent in 2021.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>But,\u2062 as Mr. Scott noted,\u200c the GAO concluded that teleworking \u2063was practiced\u2062 mainly among \u2062management employees and those in\u2064 related positions. The extent of teleworking by employees \u2062in the service sector \u2063was only about a fourth as large.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The extent of \u2064telework also varied across occupations. For example, 28 percent \u2064of workers \u200bin management and related occupations primarily worked from home in 2021 compared to 7.5 percent of\u200d workers in\u200b service\u200c occupations. Despite increases\u200d in telework, most workers did not telework in 2021,&#8221; the study \u200bobserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>productivity and well-being,&#8221; but also noted that the long-term effects are uncertain. Despite this caution, the House Democrats are emphasizing the positive aspects of teleworking, highlighting its potential to enhance productivity. The GAO study serves as valuable evidence supporting the benefits of teleworking, particularly during the pandemic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":173,"featured_media":1999082,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1999081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1999081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/173"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1999081"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1999081\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1999082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1999081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1999081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1999081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}