The new pilot program is the first-of-its-kind for Commonwealth employees, providing the opportunity for remote workers to reserve office space at the Capitol complex and encouraging opportunities for engagement, collaboration, and relationship-building.`
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro joined Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Reggie McNeil and Office of Administration (OA) Secretary Neil Weaver to open a newly designed, flexible office space for teleworkers in the Rachel Carson Building and launch the Commonwealth's first multi-agency hoteling pilot program.
The hoteling program offers remote workers the convenience of reserving desks, privacy rooms, and collaborative spaces in the 3,700-square-foot first-floor space. This flexibility acknowledges the evolving nature of work arrangements and this increasingly common practice in the private sector in order to provide employees a shared space to work collaboratively and ensure the Commonwealth can continue to recruit the most talented workforce.
"We are pleased to have worked with OA to introduce the hoteling pilot program that aligns directly with the Shapiro Administration's goal to support state workers and better serve Pennsylvanians by maximizing the use of Commonwealth office space," said DGS Secretary Reggie McNeil. "This hoteling pilot represents a progressive approach to modernizing state government workplaces, fostering flexibility, efficiency, and employees' well-being. We hope that this site will serve as a model for future hoteling spaces opened in partnership with additional Commonwealth agencies throughout high-traffic areas of the state."
As DGS and OA continue to evaluate the use of existing Commonwealth office space, the hoteling site in the Rachel Carson Building, home to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), proved ideal due to availability of space, its proximity to the train and bus station, the Capitol Complex, and other downtown amenities.
"We want our employees to have access to the tools and resources they need to do their best work, whether they are working remotely or in the office. The new shared space at the Rachel Carson building will make it easier for remote workers to come into the office for meetings and collaboration," said OA Secretary Neil Weaver. "We are excited to embark on this hoteling pilot with DGS to meet the evolving needs of our workforce."
Approximately 25 percent of Commonwealth employees work remotely on a full-time or hybrid schedule. Under the Shapiro Administration, the Commonwealth has worked to balance the time that employees spend working remotely and onsite to capitalize on the benefits of telework to recruitment, flexibility, and morale, while maintaining opportunities for collaboration, relationship-building, mentorship, culture, and engagement that happen most effectively at a workplace with colleagues.
In January, the Office of Administration began to require all full-time teleworkers – approximately 7,600 employees statewide – to report onsite a minimum of one day per month. In addition, approximately 2,300 senior managers, Governor's Office staff, and cabinet members have reported to the office in-person at least three days per week since March 2023.
The hoteling pilot program at the Rachel Carson Building will be available to approximately 1,500 employees of the following agencies: CODE PA (OA), DEP, DCNR, and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Eventually, all state workers who do not have a permanent workspace in the Capitol Complex will be able to access the site that can accommodate up to 40 people at a time and includes a kitchenette with microwave, refrigerator, and lockers.
While some agencies have instituted their own dedicated hoteling spaces within their own offices, this site is the first of its kind that will be open to all remote employees from any Commonwealth agency.
"We are excited to be a part of the Commonwealth's hoteling pilot program and to be one of the leading agencies in space consolidation," said DEP Interim Acting Secretary, Jessica Shirley. "Reducing our office footprint reduces our energy consumption and lessens the impact on the environment. I encourage all Commonwealth employees to check our flexible office space and be a part of this building transformation."
MEDIA CONTACTS:
DGS: Eric Veronikis, everonikis@pa.gov
OA: Dan Egan, degan@pa.gov
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