Last month, President Obama signed into law the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010. This law means that Federal agencies must create telework polices for all eligible employees as well as training programs for teleworkers and telework managers.

While you might be saying to yourself, this law really doesn't apply to me because I don't work for the Federal government, the law has a broader meaning for business. Government recognizes that working outside of the office is valuable.

Now pair this with the idea of flexible hours. According to a study by the Families and Work Institute (Report-The Impact of the Recession on Employers.pdf), firms are adding flexible work options such as working from home along with evening and weekend work as a way to attract and retain valuable employees. Bill Driscoll, district president for Robert Half International, was quoted in the Boston Globe as saying more firms are offering flexible hours in lieu of extra pay.

So paying attention to how this new law is implemented could be very valuable in many ways: for the business who wants a positive impact on the bottom line, for managers who want to find and keep talented employees, and for employees who are looking for some flexibility and balance.

The Telework Exchange published a report in conjunction with the new legislation providing some interesting history. But, more interesting was the section identifying the five key challenges to implementing a telework environment. The areas they sited were:

• Building Management Support
• Resistance to Change
• Measuring Productivity
• Supplying Telework Technology
• Demonstrating Return-On-Investment (ROI)

I'm not going to reprint the report here but I encourage you to check it out: Report-From Bill to Building-Next Steps for Federal Telework.pdf  The report also included some recommendations to overcome these challenges. They include management training to understand a virtual workforce, enhancements to existing technology, employee training for self-management and personal accountability.

Workshifting has covered several of these topics as well. Here are some additional resources to consider as you're putting together a flexible work plan.

Results-Based Management: Don't Workshift Without It
Looking for a Workshifting Occupation
7 Considerations for Setting Up a Home Office
4 Tips to Jumpstart Your Work Day
Project Oosouji: Clearing the Queue

And this is just a sampling of all the resources available.

The conversation about flexible time and workspace is only just starting. As more organizations recognize the value: both in cost savings and employee satisfaction, it's sure to become more common. Having the resources available to create and maintain a positive virtual workforce should be on everyone's agenda.