Expanding Access to and Ensuring Equity in the Benefits of Remote Work Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased the number of people working from home, with over 50% of employees working remotely during 2020. With the current popularity of remote work and the high prevalence of high-speed internet, video conferencing technology, remote collaboration tools, email, and other technologies, remote work will likely remain common after the pandemic ends and offices fully reopen. There are many benefits of remote work, including increased productivity, better work-life balance, reduced commute time and traffic congestion, decreased emissions, and cost savings for employees and employers. However, access to the privilege of remote work is unevenly distributed across occupations and socioeconomic groups. Among those who can work remotely, there may be disparities in performance appraisals and promotions compared to in-person workers. Congress has a unique opportunity to address these inequities via expansion of the Telework Enhancement Act, which currently covers federal government employees, to include firms in the private sector. This Act enables all employees whose jobs can be performed remotely to do so and mandates that remote workers and in-person workers be treated the same for the purposes of training, performance appraisal, and promotion.