[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 30 (Monday, July 31, 2000)]
[Pages 1689-1690]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Employing People With Significant Disabilities To Fill 
Federal Agency Jobs That Can Be Performed at Alternate Work Sites, 
Including the Home

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.

[[Page 1690]]

    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