Digital Workspace

Government Leaders Offer Telework Info for Workers and Citizens

Amid stay-at-home orders, the federal government had to care for citizens, including its own workers, who had to take care of their fellow Americans. Social media helped.

Elizabeth Neus

Twitter

Elizabeth Neus is the former managing editor of FedTech and the former producer of FedTech's award-winning Feds in the Field video series. The Washington Nationals are her team; 80s Brit pop is her sound.

Even as the federal government responded to the needs of the nation during the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic, it also had to act as an employer with 4.3 million workers who wanted to know their agency’s plan to protect them from illness or to work remotely.

Federal leaders turned to social media to advise citizens and guide employees, who shared the same challenges that the rest of the country faced during the COVID-19 restrictions.

On Using RPA to Enhance Government

The General Services Administration tied broad federal interest in automation to work on collecting information on the novel coronavirus, helping to add to the amount of available data on infections.

GSA's #RPA team developed a national #COVID19 bot to speed up collection of infection count data in counties where it manages federal buildings — one of about 20 new automations across the government tied to response. #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/pnE9fhxt2q

— Emily Murphy (@GSAEmily) May 11, 2020

On Securing Users While They Telework

Security became a concern as much of the national — and federal — workforce headed for home. The Department of Homeland Security worked with the National Security Agency to provide guidelines for federal employees who wanted to keep their networks secure.

More awesome teamwork in the times of #COVID19. Thx @NSAGov! This one is going right to the top of the list. What list, you ask? The list of telework resources we’re pulling together over at https://t.co/oJURsw6SOw Check it out! #SecureTelework https://t.co/TJmKeSv5T0

— Chris Krebs (@CISAKrebs) April 29, 2020

On Teaching Children Amid a Pandemic

Scientists are also educators, and the National Institutes of Health put together a list of STEM-related resources for adults who needed assistance in teaching children about science outside of a school setting.

While our researchers are working tirelessly in the midst of the #COVID19 pandemic, many parents who are practicing physical distancing are trying to keep their school-aged kids busy and engaged in remote learning. #NIH has resources that can help! https://t.co/l57LbWjjZW

— Francis S. Collins (@NIHDirector) April 2, 2020

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