# Federal Agencies Vary Telework Practices

Federal employees report sharply different telework practices across offices: some managers allow recurring or situational telework to maintain coverage when staff take leave or when operational needs arise, while others restrict it or require in-person reporting during disruptions. The accounts describe broad management discretion, uncertainty about how executive-branch return-to-office direction is being applied, and privacy concerns when telework is used as a reasonable accommodation. A new supervisor at a military treatment facility also reports difficulty finding clear policy or examples from peer organizations. No specific solicitation, contract, or procurement opportunity is identified; the issue is relevant to federal delivery planning because agency work arrangements can differ and affect coordination with government personnel.

- Federal procurement teams and contractors should confirm agency-specific onsite and telework expectations with their counterparts rather than assume a consistent government-wide practice.
- Organizations supporting military treatment facilities may encounter uncertainty around local telework practices; the signal does not identify a definitive policy or procurement requirement.
- OPM is identified in the extracted entities, but the signal does not specify an OPM rule or guidance document.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Published:** October 30, 2026

### Government Entities
- Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

### Key Quotes
> Anyone here at an MTF who teleworks? Honestly just trying to find examples for my staff. I’m a new supervisor and I wanna let them TW but I feel like I’m being choked by HR about it and I wish I had some good examples from other hospitals who allows telework so I can be more comfortable with it. There is like zero policy about it which is what makes it crazy
> — Commenter (new supervisor at a military treatment facility)

> The EO left plenty of room for leadership discretion. The issue is that some leaders are too afraid to use it, while others allow it so they can desperately hold on to staff.
> — Commenter

### Sources
- [My agency seems ok with telework when a lot of folks take leave](https://www.reddit.com/r/fednews/comments/1xj3163/my_agency_seems_ok_with_telework_when_a_lot_of) - reddit-fednews