January 31, 2023
Washington, D.C. – The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) opposes the “Show Up” Act (H.R. 139), legislation introduced by Rep. James Comer (R-KY) that would force federal employees to return to physical offices within 30 days if they had been working in an office prior to the COVID pandemic.
“Members of this union and federal employees across the country have been showing up for work and providing critical services to their country throughout the pandemic, as they are right now,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “This legislation is a dishonest political stunt designed to disparage America’s public servants, who have kept this nation running during one of the most trying times in recent history. The bill is based on misinformation and ignores the fact that more than half the federal workforce continued to work in-person over the past three years, and productivity increased among those working remotely.”
Alternatively, NFFE urges Congress to reintroduce the Telework Metrics and Cost Savings Act, which seeks to expand telework programs for federal employees, increase productivity, and lower costs across the federal government. The bill would assist in recruiting and retaining top level talent and help the civil service compete with the private sector for the best candidates.
“Over the course of the pandemic, federal employees have proven that telework is productive, sustainable, and cost-efficient,” continued Erwin. “Expanding telework is practical approach to achieving a federal workforce that is modernized and prepared to serve the American public in the near and long-term future. Instead of bringing up baseless messaging bills to belittle federal employees, Congress should be investing resources to improve the civil service for a better tomorrow.”
TO AVOID HATCH ACT VIOLATIONS, DO NOT CAMPAIGN FOR OR CONTACT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON DUTY, OR ON OFFICIAL TIME, OR USING A GOVERNMENT PHONE, OR ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, OR USING GOVERNMENT EQUIPMENT INCLUDING GOVERNMENT EMAIL ADDRESSES. For more information on the Hatch Act, see here.
Write to your Representative to urge them to vote “no” on the “Show Up” Act.