Us Congress Senate Bill SB1565

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/11/23
• Refer: 5/11/23

Caption

SHOW UP Act of 2023 Stopping Home Office Work’s Unproductive Problems Act of 2023

Impact

The act places a significant focus on analyzing both the positive and negative effects of telework on agency performance, especially in relation to customer service, costs related to real estate, and the overall productivity of employees. It requires agency heads to submit a certification regarding any proposed expansion of telework beyond the levels in place prior to December 31, 2019, ensuring that any new policies demonstrate tangible benefits without escalating costs unnecessarily. This could lead to a reevaluation of how federal work environments operate in the long run, potentially setting a precedent for future workforce management practices.

Summary

SB1565, known as the 'SHOW UP Act of 2023,' mandates that Executive agencies report to Congress on the implications of expanded telework and remote work arrangements implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill aims to reinstate pre-pandemic telework policies and establish a framework for evaluating the continued use of telework in these agencies. By requiring a comprehensive study and future planning, the bill seeks to assess the performance and operational efficiency of agencies in a teleworking context.

Contention

Opposition to the SHOW UP Act may revolve around concerns about the practicality and efficiency of mandated physical attendance in government workplaces. Critics argue that mandatory reinstatement of previous telework policies could ignore the success many agencies had while enabling flexible working arrangements and could undermine efforts to attract talent in a digital and increasingly remote work-oriented economy. There’s also an apprehension that this legislation may further complicate the balance between oversight and autonomy within federal agencies regarding employee work arrangements.