WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- GSA Administrator Lurita Doan today challenged her agency to draw up plans to enable 50 percent of eligible employees to telework one or more days per week by 2010. Currently 10 percent of eligible agency employees telework, compared to 4.2 percent for the overall federal workforce.

"It won't be easy, but the leaders of GSA have already proven they are capable of extraordinary achievements, no matter the odds," Administrator Doan said at a forum hosted by the Telework Exchange, a public-private partnership that promotes federal telework.

Administrator Doan said the benefits of telework warrant an aggressive internal campaign where GSA can lead by example. Among the benefits she cited: reduced energy use; fewer greenhouse gas emissions, less traffic, less U.S. dependence on foreign oil, increased worker productivity and savings for American taxpayers.

Telework is also an important recruiting and retention tool that will help attract and keep talented individuals in public service, she said, noting that the ability to telework will be especially critical in times of emergency and ensuring continuity of operations.

"Robust COOP capacity is a natural benefit of telework, but we can't wait until an emergency to implement the program," she said. "Federal agencies must have a viable telework program in place as part of normal operations."

As interim goals, Administrator Doan called for plans to increase the number of GSA teleworkers to 20 percent by the end of 2007 and 40 percent by the end of 2008.

Founded in 1949, GSA serves as a centralized procurement and property management agency for the federal government. GSA manages more than one-fourth of the government's total procurement dollars and influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets, including 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 205,000 vehicles. GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 425 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services. GSA's mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and eGov travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions.

Did You Know? GSA, in cooperation with the Office of Personnel Management and community partners, has established a network of 14 telework centers across the metropolitan area.

CONTACT: Jen Millikin, (202) 501-1231

jennifer.millikin@gsa.gov

CONTACT: Jen Millikin of the General Services Administration,
+1-202-501-1231, jennifer.millikin@gsa.gov

Web Site: http://www.gsa.gov/