Stopping Home Office Work's Unproductive Problems Act of 2023 or the SHOW UP Act of 2023 This bill requires each executive agency to reinstate the telework policies that were in place on December 31, 2019. Agencies may not implement expanded telework policies unless the Office of Personnel Management certifies that such policies, among other requirements, will have a positive effect on the agency's mission and operational costs.
In a significant shift, this bill aims to halt the flexible teleworking policies that many agencies adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which supporters argue were detrimental to agency missions and efficiency. By requiring a reversion to pre-pandemic standards, the bill emphasizes traditional office attendance over remote options, potentially affecting productivity and employee morale. The implementation of the bill requires that agencies assess the practicality and cost-effectiveness of continued telework, ensuring such policies enhance, rather than hinder, their operational objectives.
House Bill 139, titled the Stopping Home Office Work's Unproductive Problems Act of 2023 or the SHOW UP Act of 2023, mandates that all executive agencies restore their telework policies to those that were in effect on December 31, 2019. The bill prohibits agencies from expanding these telework policies unless a credible plan, certified to benefit agency performance and operational costs, is submitted to Congress. The intent is to reestablish a pre-pandemic framework for telework, requiring a formal assessment of the impacts of expanded telework arrangements during the pandemic.
The sentiment regarding HB 139 appears to be mixed among lawmakers and federal employees. Supporters, primarily from the Republican party, advocate for the bill as a means to enhance productivity and accountability in government agencies, arguing that remote work can lead to complacency and inefficiency. Conversely, opponents, including numerous Democrats and labor advocates, criticize the proposal as an impractical reversion that disregards the benefits of flexible work arrangements, especially in attracting and retaining talent within the public sector.
Debate surrounding the bill reveals notable points of contention, particularly regarding the balance between operational effectiveness and employee work-life balance. Critics express concerns that reinstating older telework policies could ultimately reduce employee satisfaction, and subsequently, agency effectiveness. Furthermore, the requirement for annual studies and agency plans adds another layer of bureaucracy, which some legislators believe may detract from efficient governance.