Bill Overview
Title: RETURN Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires each federal agency to submit to Congress and publish on the agency's website a plan for the agency to resume in-person operations. The plan shall, among other things, include the agency's policy with respect to permitting permanent remote work for employees who can successfully achieve their duties away from their official work sites, metrics to measure the productivity of employees performing remote work to identify employees that fail to fulfill their duties, a plan to provide essential government services in person for individuals in the United States, and measures to prepare for future public health emergencies that can be quickly implemented if remote work becomes necessary. Each agency must submit a report to the General Services Administration recommending termination of the agency's leases of physical work spaces that are underused.
Sponsors: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by changes in federal agency operations
Estimated Size: 330000000
- The bill will directly impact federal employees by requiring them to submit plans regarding in-person operations, indicating a shift from remote work.
- It specifies considerations for permanent remote work, meaning employees who currently work remotely might need to return to offices.
- Federal agencies will be affected by operational changes, including resuming in-person services and possibly terminating leases for underused physical spaces.
- The general public interacting with federal agencies could be impacted by changes in how services are delivered, shifting from remote to in-person where applicable.
- Overall, the changes could influence all employees in the federal workforce along with those who engage with federal services directly.
Reasoning
- Consideration was made for a range of federal employees across different locations, roles, and personal circumstances to reflect the population affected by the policy change.
- Budget limitations restrict expansive changes, which influences the moderate to marginal impacts on the wellbeing of some individuals due to retained remote working options.
- Since the bill affects how federal agencies operate and interacts with the public, non-federal employees who frequently use government services also experience the effects, albeit indirectly.
- The wellbeing scores capture immediate and long-term impacts, suggesting adaptation over time for those who transition back to physical offices.
- The inclusion of diverse sectors and geographic locations ensures a broad representation of opinions and experiences, capturing both positive and negative sentiments towards the RETURN Act of 2022.
Simulated Interviews
Federal Employee - Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The RETURN Act has been a source of stress, balancing home duties with work from an office.
- Potential end of remote work feels like a step back from progressive workplace dynamics.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Federal Employee - IT Specialist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transitioning back seems unnecessary for my productivity.
- Concerned about commuting costs and losing personal time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Federal Employee - Administrative Assistant (Albuquerque, NM)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Helping the public in person feels more rewarding.
- The RETURN Act is an opportunity to connect more directly with colleagues and clients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Federal Employee - Project Manager (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Going back feels like a logistics challenge, especially with my daily commute.
- Hopeful that some form of hybrid work can be maintained.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Recent Graduate - Looking for federal job (Chicago, IL)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a chance to work in a structured environment that enhances early career learning.
- I'm concerned about job availability and competition once offices are fully open.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Public - Small Business Owner (New York, NY)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having federal services back in person could help streamline business processes.
- Remote interactions with agencies have been inefficient at times.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Federal Employee - Customer Service Representative (Dallas, TX)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Providing in-person service is more effective for some queries.
- The balance of remote and in-person work should tailor to public demand.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Federal Employee - Research Analyst (Denver, CO)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's important to maintain flexibility in work arrangements, remote work fits well with my lifestyle.
- Uncertainty around office return is distracting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 10 |
Federal Employee - Human Resources (Miami, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transitioning back to office can reveal new operational efficiencies.
- The RETURN Act prompts necessary evaluation of workspace needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Public - Veteran (Seattle, WA)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More in-person services at federal agencies can enhance support for veterans.
- I'm hopeful for improvements, especially in response times and service satisfaction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $120000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $160000000)
Year 3: $90000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $130000000)
Year 5: $60000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $90000000)
Year 10: $50000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $75000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $75000000)
Key Considerations
- The transition to in-person operations will require significant planning and transition costs, which may be higher upfront than the realized long-term savings.
- Understanding the real impact on productivity with varying work environments remains a key uncertainty.
- The commercial real estate market could be significantly impacted by released federal leases.