Did you know that the average DC commuter spends an average of 5.5 hrs each week stuck in traffic and that Americans around the country who commute to work emit approximately 1 ton of pollutants each year?
Telework helps to keep our skies blue and our roads open- all while still continuing to perform the important work we do each and every day at the Department of Agriculture.
And how important that is for all of us as USDA employees who work so hard to support the conservation of our natural resources, the preservation of our National forests and wildlife- not to mention to sustain our country’s agricultural production. By virtue of our commitment to USDA, to the American public who we serve and to our families and communities- we should all be committed to finding effective and efficient ways to work.
Telework is a win-win-win opportunity for USDA and the environment. Telework supports:
- Meeting the Federal telework law requirements - Telework Enhancement Act of 2010
- Real estate savings - Presidential Memorandum on Disposing of Unneeded Federal Real Estate
- Sustainability - Executive Order 13514
- Business continuity
- Improved productivity
- Personnel recruitment and retention
- Work/life balance and commuter savings
- Reduction of traffic, greenhouse gas emissions, and wear and tear on public transportation
USDA currently has more than 2,700 pledges for Telework Week. Collectively, those pledges will save:
- $660,979.27 while teleworking during Telework Week
- 436,692.35 lbs of pollutants during Telework Week
- 217.28 tons of pollutants during Telework Week
- If all those pledged to telework during Telework Week teleworked for a year, they would collectively save $33,048,963.50
So where will I be this week? Teleworking of course! And thanks to Telework Week so will more than 2,700 of our USDA employees across the country. If you haven’t done so already, please be sure to Pledge your support by visiting https://www.teleworkexchange.com/teleworkweek.
For more information on making a commitment to National Telework Week check out this video from USDA's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, Oscar Gonzales Jr.