Telework Exchange ''Gas Prices Fuel Telework'' Study Shows Impact of Gas Prices on Federal Commuters; Study Forecasts Pocketbook Impact of Spike in Gas Prices - $5.00 a Gallon Takes $231 Out of Average Fed Commuter's Pocket

Business Wire, May 9, 2006

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Telework Exchange(SM), a public-private partnership, focused on telework in the Federal government, today announced the results of the "Gas Prices Fuel Telework" study that projects the impact of rising gas prices for Federal commuter expenses. With gas prices continuing to rise, the study provides insight into the impact of the $5.00 gallon and highlights the opportunity for Feds to use telework as a gas replacement. At $5.00 per gallon, the average Federal commuter will spend $231.34 a month on gasoline - 11.2 percent of after tax income for a GS-7, Step 5.

Today, confronted by the $3.00 per gallon, the average full-time Federal commuter spends $138.80 per month on gasoline - 6.7 percent of after tax income for a GS-7, Step 5. Of note, at $3.00 per gallon, the average Fed is $46.27 per month worse off than when gas prices stood at $2.00 a gallon in February 2005.

Telework provides a golden opportunity to reduce gas consumption as well as decrease America's dependence on foreign oil. At $3.00 a gallon, Federal employees can save $55.52 a month by teleworking two days a week. At $5.00 a gallon, Federal employees can save $92.54 a month by teleworking two days a week. If all Federal employees telework just two days a week, they can conserve 49.6 million gallons of fuel per month.

With average savings, full-time teleworkers in a year can purchase season tickets to Washington Nationals Games and buy 23 baseball hats, take six credits at local university, or save enough money to provide 4,995 dinners to needy families.

"We have seen a marked acceleration in gas price increases in the last month, and if gasoline prices remain at the $3.00 level, the annual cost of gasoline will become detrimental for the average Federal employee and commuter in the metro region," said John B. Townsend II, Manager, Public & Government Relations, AAA Mid-Atlantic. "We must focus on alternative forms of commuting, including telework."

Rising gas prices increase pressure on Federal agencies to comply with Public Law (PL) 106-346, which requires that all eligible employees should be allowed to telework. Federal government agencies must establish a telework policy so that eligible employees can telework, yet maintain performance standards. Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA) inserted a provision in the fiscal 2006 Science, State, Justice and Commerce appropriations bill to withhold $5 million from the budgets of the departments of Commerce, Justice, State, as well as the Small Business Administration (SBA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) if they do not ensure eligible employees are able to telework.

"Telework is the proven gas alternative for the U.S. service-based economy," said Stephen W.T. O'Keeffe, executive director of Telework Exchange. "We are approaching a telework perfect storm with high gas prices, the start of the 2006 hurricane season, and Federal agency continuity of operations and National pandemic planning. The Federal government can not afford to miss the bus on telework."

Telework Exchange will host a Town Hall Meeting on June 15 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. to discuss Federal telework and next steps to make telework a standard operating procedure across the Federal government. For more information on the event, please visit www.teleworkexchange.com/townhallmeeting.> The Telework Exchange "Gas Fuels Telework" study is based on a survey of 3,500 Federal government employees registered to the Telework Exchange Web site. On average, a full-time Federal employee drives approximately 63 miles to and from work each day. The study is based on the Telework Exchange's Web site registrants' non-personal commuting and teleworking information. To download the study, visit www.teleworkexchange.com.

About the Telework Exchange, LLC

The Telework Exchange is an online community focused on demonstrating the tangible value of telework and serving the emerging educational and communication requirements of the Federal teleworker community. The organization facilitates communication among Federal teleworkers, telework managers, and IT professionals. For more information on Telework Exchange, please visit www.teleworkexchange.com.