FEDTECH: How quickly did the practice expand?
Washington: One of the most important adoptions for USDA employees was the use of collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and our ability to make those platforms available outside of office space. As USDA IT staff enabled these tools and made it easier to utilize them, employees were able to be more flexible while remaining effective. As training events like virtual brown bag sessions and videos became more available, more people began to use them. Once our employees had enjoyable and productive experiences using these new platforms, their adoption took off.
FEDTECH: How did the technology evolve through 2016?
Washington: The most critical difference was our ability to introduce office automation software like Office 365 that works through a portal, making access to critical applications easier. We’ve also made strides in using virtual desktop technology. With our mobile device management platform, allowing documentation editing and collaboration session attendance on our phones, we’ve been able to provide more ways for our staff to be productive than ever before. Most important, we’ve made these improvements while remaining as secure as possible, so we can take advantage of these technical advancements without being taken advantage of through cyberthreats.
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FEDTECH: Telework had a different context during Secretary Vilsack’s first stint in office. What are the differences between then and now?
Washington: In 2014, USDA set up the foundation for a successful telework program. More recently, we had two challenges. We instituted a maximum telework posture due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and we also repealed the 2018 telework policy, which had significant negative impacts on employee morale and retention and hampered our ability to recruit top talent. Looking beyond the pandemic, we are looking at workplace flexibilities across the board, including increased telework options, expanded use of virtual and remote duty stations, and enhanced work schedule flexibilities.
In support of the ability to function, USDA employees have adapted to the use of new tools and new ways to communicate, collaborate and connect just as if they were in an office setting.
FEDTECH: What sorts of workers can telework now who could not before the pandemic? What technology made it possible?
Washington: The combination of network availability and the new office and web tools mentioned previously create many new options for staff members who previously needed to be in an office to complete work. Our ability to digitally sign documents has made it easier for staff to work outside the office, as has our movement of mission-essential applications into the cloud. Our web presence is also much more effective than it was previously, allowing our customers the ability to work with us outside the office as well. With new web tools and electronic signatures, a larger population of USDA was able to work from home.