RETURN Act Require Employees To Uniformly Return Now Act
Impact
If enacted, SB155 would alter the current teleworking policies for IRS employees that were put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The act defines 'applicable employees' as those IRS workers who were authorized to telework under these policies. It establishes a timeframe during which telework is prohibited, meaning that employees would need to physically report to their offices starting five business days after the bill's enactment until the IRS Commissioner certifies that the backlog is indeed cleared. This could significantly impact the daily operations and working conditions for IRS employees and the agency’s service efficiency overall.
Summary
Senate Bill 155, known as the RETURN Act, was introduced to mandate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees to return to their offices until all backlog of income tax returns is resolved. The bill highlights a significant push towards ensuring that government operations resume in physical offices as a means to expedite the resolution of existing tax processing delays that have accumulated. By eliminating remote work for applicable IRS employees, the bill aims to foster a more efficient workflow within the agency.
Contention
While the primary goal of the RETURN Act is to address the backlog in processing income tax returns, the bill may face contention regarding telework policies. Supporters argue that requiring IRS employees to return to the office will facilitate better collaboration and faster processing times. However, opponents might express concerns over health and safety protocols, particularly in light of ongoing public health considerations post-COVID-19. There are also broader implications regarding government employment relations and the future of telework in federal agencies, especially as combining in-office work with telework has become more commonplace.
Related
Require Employees To Uniformly Return Now Act or the RETURN Act This bill prohibits Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees from teleworking during the period beginning five business days after the enactment of this bill and ending on the date on which the IRS certifies that the processing backlog for 2020 income tax returns has been eliminated. The Department of the Treasury may not obligate additional funds for the IRS until the date on which the IRS certifies the backlog has been eliminated.
Related
Require Employees To Uniformly Return Now Act or the RETURN Act This bill prohibits Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees from teleworking during the period beginning five business days after the enactment of this bill and ending on the date on which the IRS certifies that the processing backlog for income tax returns for all taxable years has been eliminated. The Department of the Treasury may not obligate additional funds for the IRS until the date on which the IRS certifies that the backlog has been eliminated.
Require Employees To Uniformly Return Now Act or the RETURN Act This bill prohibits Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees from teleworking during the period beginning five business days after the enactment of this bill and ending on the date on which the IRS certifies that the processing backlog for income tax returns for all taxable years has been eliminated. The Department of the Treasury may not obligate additional funds for the IRS until the date on which the IRS certifies that the backlog has been eliminated.
Require Employees To Uniformly Return Now Act or the RETURN Act This bill prohibits Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees from teleworking during the period beginning five business days after the enactment of this bill and ending on the date on which the IRS certifies that the processing backlog for 2020 income tax returns has been eliminated. The Department of the Treasury may not obligate additional funds for the IRS until the date on which the IRS certifies the backlog has been eliminated.
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