Agency Leaders Should Use Pandemic Lessons in Workplace Planning, OMB Says
In a July 20 memo, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young instructed agencies to consider telework and remote work when planning their office workspaces. The deadline for all federal agencies to submit their annual capital plan to OMB and the Federal Real Property Council is December 16, 2022.
As part of her statement, Director Young noted that these capital plans must align with the fiscal year (FY) budget request from President Biden; however, the strategy presented in the plans will continue through FY 2028.
In determining future physical workspace requirements, agencies should take into account workforce and workplace trends, such as “hybrid work, which includes onsite work, telework, alternative work schedules, online collaboration, and remote work policies and practices,” according to the memo. Further, agencies are expected keep pandemic lessons in mind and define real property assets needed to accommodate government employees and contractors in a post-COVID-19 work environment.
Additionally, OMB instructed agencies to collaborate with their chief information officers to assess the status of “online collaboration tools, cloud-based software, and cybersecurity to support a distributed workforce.” As part of the “data-driven assessment and evaluation” initiative, Director Young further encouraged agencies to work with their evaluation officers, chief data officers, and performance improvement officers to build and support a “data-driven assessment and evaluation system.”
“Agencies should rely on evidence when making their office space and capital planning decisions, including by collecting and using data and information regarding the effects of personnel policies and procedures on mission delivery employee engagement, and workspace utilization,” stated Director Young.
The new directive comes nearly one year after OMB paused its governmentwide real property planning requirement due to the pandemic.
