Memorandum from the President: Employing People with Significant Disabilities to Fill Federal Agency Jobs that can be Performed at Alternate Work Sites, Including the Home (7/26/00)

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Memorandum from the President: Employing People with Significant Disabilities to Fill Federal Agency Jobs that can be Performed at Alternate Work Sites, Including the Home (7/26/00)

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                              THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Press Secretary

_                                                               For
Immediate Release                             July 26, 2000


                          July 26, 2000


MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

SUBJECT:       Employing People with Significant Disabilities to Fill
               Federal Agency Jobs that can be Performed at Alternate Work
               Sites, Including the Home


Cutting-edge telecommunications technology has recently made it possible
for customer service "call/contact" centers to transmit voice and data to
employees who are located at work sites other than the call/contact
centers, employers? headquarters, or other centralized locations.
Individuals employed as customer service representatives can work from
their homes or any other accessible off-site location just as if they were
working in the call/contact centers themselves.  Technology also enables
other types of work activities, such as the processing of insurance claims
and financial transactions, to be carried out from such alternate work
stations.

The unemployment rate of individuals with significant disabilities is among
the highest of disadvantaged groups in the Nation.  These individuals are
an important untapped resource of talent and skills, and a key element in
our Nation's ability to sustain our historic economic growth.  The
increasing use of off-site work stations to carry out significant and
competitive work activities provides a critical new source of employment
opportunities for individuals with significant disabilities.

It is in the interest of the Federal Government to utilize the skills of
qualified people with significant disabilities by recruiting them for
appropriate off-site, home-based employment opportunities with Federal
agencies, including employment as home-based customer service
representatives linked to Federal customer service call/contact centers.

To harness the power of new technologies to promote Federal sector
employment of qualified people with significant disabilities, as defined in
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), as amended, and to improve Federal customer
service representation, I direct executive departments and agencies as
follows:

     (a)  Each head of an executive department or agency operating customer
     service call/contact centers shall identify positions that can be
     relocated to home-based or other off-site facilities, and that can be
     filled by qualified individuals, including those with significant
     disabilities.

     (b)  Each head of an executive department or agency shall identify the
     appropriateness of using home-based and other off-site positions to
     carry out other specific work activities, such as the processing of
     insurance claims and financial transactions, that could be
     accomplished by qualified individuals, including those with
     significant disabilities.

     (c)  If the head of a department or agency determines it is feasible
     and appropriate to use home-based and other off-site locations
     pursuant to its actions under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
     memorandum, such head shall develop a Plan of Action that encourages
     the recruitment and employment of qualified individuals with
     significant disabilities.

     (d)  The Plan of Action developed pursuant to paragraph (c) of this
     memorandum shall be submitted to the National Task Force on Employment
     of Adults with Disabilities (Task Force) (established by Executive
     Order 13078 of March 13, 1998) within 120 days from the date of this
     memorandum.

     (e)  The Task Force shall review and approve agency Plans of Action
     and shall be responsible for developing guidance for the
     implementation of the plans and the provisions of this memorandum.

     (f)  In implementing this memorandum, agencies must honor their
     obligations to notify their collective bargaining representatives and
     bargain over such procedures to the extent required by law.

     (g) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with merit system
     principles under law.

     (h)  This memorandum does not create any right or benefit, substantive
     or procedural, enforceable at law by a party against the United
     States, its officers, its employees, or any other person.



                              WILLIAM J. CLINTON


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