H.R.236 - Federal Employee Return to Work Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.236, the Federal Employee Return to Work Act, aims to prohibit certain federal employees who telework from receiving annual pay adjustments and locality pay adjustments. The bill defines a 'covered employee' as one who teleworks at least one day a week (or 20% of the time under an alternative work schedule), with some exceptions. These exceptions include employees with disabilities requiring accommodations, Foreign Service members, federal law enforcement officers, active duty military personnel, and employees whose official worksite is not within specific regulatory guidelines.
Expected Effects
If enacted, this bill would freeze the annual pay and locality pay adjustments for federal employees who meet the definition of 'covered employee'. This could lead to a reduction in overall compensation for affected employees over time, as their pay would not keep pace with inflation or locality-based cost of living increases. The bill would take effect at the start of the first full fiscal year after its enactment.
Potential Benefits
- Potential cost savings for the federal government by limiting pay increases for teleworking employees.
- May incentivize federal employees to return to in-person work, potentially boosting local economies near federal worksites.
- Could address concerns about fairness between employees who telework and those who work in-person.
- May improve oversight and accountability of federal employees.
- Could lead to more efficient use of federal office space.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- May negatively impact employee morale and retention, especially among those who value telework arrangements.
- Could disproportionately affect employees in high-cost areas, as their locality pay would be frozen.
- May reduce the attractiveness of federal employment, potentially hindering recruitment efforts.
- Could lead to decreased productivity if employees are forced to return to the office against their preference.
- May increase commuting costs and time for affected employees.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to be within the constitutional authority of Congress to regulate the compensation of federal employees, as derived from Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to establish post offices and post roads, and to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers. There are no apparent violations of individual rights or liberties protected by the Constitution or its amendments.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).