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Washington, D.C.—An effective and expansive telework program is one of the proven best ways to bring real flexibility to the federal workplace with positive effects for both employees and their agencies, the leader of the nation’s largest independent union of federal employees told a White House gathering today.

President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) offered her views as a White House-invited participant at the forum attended by high-ranking administration officials and addressed both by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

The opening and closing sessions were streamed live on the White House web site; and part of the event was featured on social networking sites, allowing for viewer comments to be included in the feedback collected through the forum. President Kelley participated in one of five smaller group meetings, focusing on “Exploring Best Practices for the Changing American Workforce.”

While the forum was underway, the White House Council of Economic Advisors released a report on “Work-Life Balance and the Economics of Workplace Flexibilities.” President Kelley said NTEU will review the report carefully, identify best practices for the federal workplace and urge NTEU-represented federal agencies to adopt them.

“I am pleased to see this administration take a leading role in championing flexible workplaces,” said President Kelley. “It is clear that the president and Mrs. Obama are strong believers in fostering work-life balance for American families. I look forward to seeing their views cascade into federal agencies.”

In her remarks, the First Lady said flexible policies “actually make employees more—not less—productive.” She added: “Instead of spending time worrying about what’s happening at home, employees have the support and the peace of mind they need to concentrate at work, which is good for their families—and the bottom line.”

Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to the president, emphasized that employers—“including the federal government”—are going to have to implement flexible work policies “if they want to attract the best and the brightest.” Jarrett also is chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls.

President Kelley has long been an advocate of workplace flexibilities, and NTEU is a leader in proposing and negotiating telework agreements. “It allows employees to avoid long, expensive and tiresome commutes, enables them to better balance work and family life and increases job satisfaction,” emphasizing at the same time that it is a benefit for the government, as well, particularly for recruitment and retention purposes.

In her breakout session, the NTEU leader said that NTEU negotiates for flexibilities in every bargaining unit and then works hard to breathe life into them. Oftentimes, she said, there is real resistance among managers to implementing flexibilities.

“Behavior needs to be modeled and supported by the heads of the agencies and all layers of management,” said Kelley.

Meanwhile, as a leading advocate for expanded telework opportunities in the federal sector, NTEU is supporting H.R. 1722, introduced by Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), and S. 707, introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), which would ensure that all eligible federal workers have the opportunity to telework.

In addition, the pending legislation would require agencies to provide training on telework to both managers and employees; have each agency appoint a full-time telework managing officer; and have the Government Accountability Office annually rate each agency’s compliance with the telework requirement.

Kelley said NTEU’s long experience with telework has shown that the primary barrier to a successful program has been and remains management reluctance to oversee employees who are not readily visible in the workplace. “I could not agree more with the president’s statement that ‘work is what you do not where you are’,” said Kelley.

As the largest independent federal union, NTEU represents 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.