Future of the Federal Workforce and Workplace in the Post-Pandemic Era

During the pandemic, Federal agencies discovered how large numbers of employees could work productively without being tethered to a single physical location. Yet some agency missions, including law enforcement, lab research, national security functions, and public facing functions, cannot be performed effectively through long-term telework. As the Administration prepares plans to return Federal employees back to the office, its challenge is to develop an approach that supports agencies and employees not just in doing their work, but in doing their best work.

On July 15, 2021, the National Academy of Public Administration will present the second in two-part series on the future of the Federal workplace. The discussion will consider the implications of OMB Memorandum M 21-25, which provides guidance to agencies as they plan to return employees back to the workplace. The panel will consider how increased telework and remote work can enhance an agency’s ability to recruit and retain talent across the country. The discussion will also examine issues of equity, organizational dynamics, and agency performance as the Federal government prepares its workplace strategy for the post-pandemic era.