The Office of the Inspector General identified several issues with the use and oversight of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s telework program, including missing telework agreements and inaccurate telework records, both of which are required by law for proper program administration. Additionally, we found inadequate compliance with documentation standards, which could result in inconsistent adherence to policies and inaccuracies in employee records. Finally, we identified discrepancies in some official duty stations and failure to comply with telework agreement terms, potentially resulting in incorrect locality pay.
This report makes seven recommendations to strengthen the telework program’s document management and oversight processes to ensure full compliance with federal laws and regulations.
Report File
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Nuclear Regulatory Commission OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Report Number
OIG-NRC-25-E-01
Report Description
Report Type
Inspection / Evaluation
Agency Wide
Yes
Number of Recommendations
7
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
Report updated under NDAA 5274
No
Open Recommendations
This report has 3 open recommendations.
| Recommendation Number | Significant Recommendation | Recommended Questioned Costs | Recommended Funds for Better Use | Additional Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | Yes | $0 | $0 | Agency Response Dated June 10, 2025: OCHCO concurs with the recommendation. Effective July 2025, Human Resources (HR) Specialists will institute quarterly reviews of telework status codes in the Federal Personnel Payroll System (FPPS) against telework data in TADA. Specifically, HR Specialists will be tasked with reconciling telework codes in FPPS against data generated from the TADA system. HR Specialists will also verify all necessary updates are made to resolve discrepancies in employee telework data. OIG Analysis: The OIG will close the recommendation once the quarterly review of the telework status codes in the FPPS against telework data in TADA is completed. This recommendation remains open and resolved. |
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| The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations conduct periodic reconciliations between the telework agreements and the NRC’s payroll system to ensure the accuracy and completeness of employees’ telework statuses. | |||||
| 3.3 | Yes | $0 | $0 | Agency Response Dated June 10, 2025: OCHCO concurs with the recommendation. TADA electronically monitors remote and special circumstances telework agreements nearing expiration. This allows employees and supervisors to make any necessary updates promptly in accordance with established procedures. Specifically, the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) will implement a notification feature in TADA to tag telework agreements that are nearing their expiration dates. This feature will automatically alert the employee’s supervisor, prompting them to initiate and approve the renewal of the telework agreement in a timely manner. This enhancement will help ensure continuous compliance and avoid any lapses in telework authorizations. OIG Analysis: The OIG will close the recommendation once the notification feature to avoid any lapses in telework authorizations is implemented in TADA. This recommendation remains open and resolved. |
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| The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations implement a tracking system to monitor telework agreements nearing expiration, ensuring that necessary updates, such as changes to official duty stations, are made promptly and in accordance with established procedures. | |||||
| 4.1 | Yes | $0 | $0 | Agency Response Dated June 10, 2025: OCHCO concurs with the recommendation. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring employees adhere to the terms of their telework agreements, including reporting to their official duty station. OCHCO will develop specific procedures to validate duty stations in FPPS and provide controls for supervisors to mitigate the risk of inaccurate locality pay and ensure compliance with the requirements set forth in the employee’s telework agreement. The procedures will align with the quarterly reviews outlined in response to Recommendation 1.2. OIG Analysis: The OIG will close the recommendation once OCHCO develops specific procedures to validate duty stations in FPPS and provide controls to ensure compliance with the requirements in the employee’s telework agreement. This recommendation remains open and resolved. |
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| The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations develop procedures to mitigate the risk of inaccurate locality pay resulting from employees not reporting to their official duty station as required by the terms of their telework agreements. | |||||
