Overview

Title

To require Executive agencies to reinstate telework policies that were in place on December 31, 2019, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

H. R. 107 is like a rule saying that certain government workers should work from home the same way they did at the end of 2019, and this rule should happen within about two months after it becomes official. It also says this new work-from-home rule will be more important than any different work rules that people might have already.

Summary AI

H. R. 107 aims to have Executive agencies in the United States revert to the telework policies they had in place on December 31, 2019. The bill requires that these prior telework policies be reinstated within 60 days of the bill's enactment. Once reinstated, these policies will override any conflicting telework terms in existing employment agreements. The bill is referred to as the "Return to Work Act."

Published

2025-01-03
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2025-01-03
Package ID: BILLS-119hr107ih

Keywords AI

telework policies executive agencies return to work act reinstatement remote work employment agreements conflicts with compliance mechanism legal disputes oversight

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
374
Pages:
2
Sentences:
10

Language

Nouns: 122
Verbs: 24
Adjectives: 29
Adverbs: 1
Numbers: 23
Entities: 26

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.32
Average Sentence Length:
37.40
Token Entropy:
4.52
Readability (ARI):
21.17

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The bill, titled the "Return to Work Act," proposes that all Executive agencies in the United States must reinstate telework policies that were in place on December 31, 2019. This reinstatement must occur within 60 days from when the bill is enacted. The essential aim is to revert teleworking practices to the pre-pandemic norms. This means any telework policies currently in use that conflict with the 2019 policies would be replaced by the older set of rules.

Summary of Significant Issues

Several notable issues are associated with the provisions of this bill. Firstly, there is no defined mechanism for ensuring compliance or penalties if an Executive agency does not meet the 60-day reinstatement deadline. Moreover, the bill lacks a system of oversight, raising concerns about whether agencies will apply the requirements consistently.

Furthermore, the bill does not clarify how conflicts between reinstated policies and existing telework or employment agreements should be resolved. This omission could potentially lead to confusion or legal disputes. The term "conflicts with" is also undefined, which might result in varying interpretations that could further complicate its implementation.

Impact on the Public Broadly

The reinstatement of telework policies might have varied effects on the public at large. It may impact how government services are delivered, as agency operations could shift back to previous teleworking arrangements. For those who benefited from increased telework opportunities during the pandemic, the return to earlier policies might mean reduced flexibility. On the other hand, those advocating for a more traditional work environment might view this as a positive return to pre-pandemic norms.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

The bill's impact on government employees, who are the primary stakeholders, could be significant. Employees who have grown accustomed to more flexible telework arrangements might face reduced opportunities to work remotely. This change could affect work-life balance and productivity levels, depending on individual circumstances.

Agencies themselves might experience operational shifts as they adjust back to previous teleworking arrangements. If not properly managed, this transition might temporarily disrupt workflows or agency efficiency.

Union representatives and those involved in collective bargaining may face challenges since any reinstated telework policy supersedes existing agreements that conflict. This shift could potentially lead to tensions or disagreements between labor and management.

In summary, while the bill seeks to revert to a pre-pandemic teleworking framework, its successful implementation depends on clarity in resolving conflicts, enforcement, and adherence across all agencies. The lack of defined procedures for compliance and conflict resolution raises concerns that may affect both agency operations and employee satisfaction.

Issues

  • The bill lacks a specified mechanism for enforcing compliance or consequences if an Executive agency fails to reinstate the telework policies within the 60-day deadline. (Section 2)

  • There is no mention of oversight to ensure the proper reinstatement of telework policies, which could lead to inconsistent application across different agencies. (Section 2)

  • The bill does not address how conflicts between reinstated telework policies and existing employment agreements will be resolved, potentially leading to legal disputes or confusion among employees. (Section 2)

  • The term 'conflicts with' is not clearly defined within the bill, which could lead to varying interpretations and possible disputes about what constitutes a conflict in telework policies. (Section 2)

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the bill states that the name of this piece of legislation is the “Return to Work Act.”

2. Reinstate prior remote work policies Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The bill requires that within 60 days of its enactment, each Executive agency must bring back the remote work policies they had on December 31, 2019. These reinstated remote work rules will replace any conflicting telework arrangements or agreements that the agencies currently have in place.