5 U.S.C. § 6120 - Purpose

• Cite as: 5 U.S.C. § 6120

The Congress finds that the use of flexible and compressed work schedules has the potential to improve productivity in the Federal Government and provide greater service to the public.

Cite as 5 U.S.C. § 6120

Source: Added Pub. L. 97-221, §2(a)(2), July 23, 1982, 96 Stat. 227.

Notes from the Office of Law Revision Counsel

current through 5/25/2023

EXECUTIVE DOCUMENTS

EXPANDING FAMILY-FRIENDLY WORK ARRANGEMENTS IN EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Memorandum of President of the United States, July 11, 1994, 59 F.R. 36017, provided:

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

In order to recruit and retain a Federal work force that will provide the highest quality of service to the American people, the executive branch must implement flexible work arrangements to create a "family-friendly" workplace. Broad use of flexible work arrangements to enable Federal employees to better balance their work and family responsibilities can increase employee effectiveness and job satisfaction, while decreasing turnover rates and absenteeism. I therefore adopt the National Performance Review's recommendation that a more family-friendly workplace be created by expanding opportunities for Federal workers to participate in flexible work arrangements, consistent with the mission of the executive branch to serve the public.

The head of each executive department or agency (hereafter collectively "agency" or "agencies") is hereby directed to establish a program to encourage and support the expansion of flexible family-friendly work arrangements, including: job sharing; career part-time employment; alternative work schedules; telecommuting and satellite work locations. Such a program shall include:

(1) identifying agency positions that are suitable for flexible work arrangements;

(2) adopting appropriate policies to increase the opportunities for employees in suitable positions to participate in such flexible work arrangements;

(3) providing appropriate training and support necessary to implement flexible work arrangements; and

(4) identifying barriers to implementing this directive and providing recommendations for addressing such barriers to the President's Management Council.

I direct the Director of the Office of Personnel Management ("OPM") and the Administrator of General Services ("GSA") to take all necessary steps to support and encourage the expanded implementation of flexible work arrangements. The OPM and GSA shall work in concert to promptly review and revise regulations that are barriers to such work arrangements and develop legislative proposals, as needed, to achieve the goals of this directive. The OPM and GSA also shall assist agencies, as requested, to implement this directive.