Telecommuting from overseas (Fed job)

[Anonymous]

Have any federal employees been able to successfully arrange telecommuting from an international location for a defined period of time (2-3 years) due to a transfer for your spouse’s job? If so, what agency and how did you go about it?

[Anonymous]

Any agency I have ever worked it does not allow it due to IT Security issues involved with attempting to VPN from a foreign country. They likely will not allow it.

[Anonymous]

My agency denied this request for a colleague.

[Anonymous]

Is your spouse a Department of State employee?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any agency I have ever worked it does not allow it due to IT Security issues involved with attempting to VPN from a foreign country. They likely will not allow it.

This. However, I do know of one person who was able to do it, but I think there was a spot for them to sit somewhere on US govt property (the embassy or a military base).

[Anonymous]

I work for State and while I personally haven't done it, I know it exists here - program is called DETO (Domestic Employee Teleworking Overseas). Seems like it's usually targeted for couples both working for State where one is GS/Civil Service and the other is Foreign Service. I don't know how it's set up exactly, but I think it's like most other full-time teleworking situations - you find a position first, build rapport with the bureau, then (hopefully) convince them to let you telework full-time for a tour (2-3 years). Obviously won't work for every position but I know it does happen.

I'm Foreign Service myself so definitely have done a lot of research on spousal telework possibilities - it's difficult but more common than it used to be.

[Anonymous]

There are exceptions where an agency must grant spousal work abroad if the spouse is posted on an overseas assignment for the government (I know State and Justice participate in some form). Not sure how it works though worth checking out.

[Anonymous]

Just resign yourself to being the CLO or accompanying contractors around the Embassy. Trailing spouses have it rough in the career dept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just resign yourself to being the CLO or accompanying contractors around the Embassy. Trailing spouses have it rough in the career dept.

Yep. I (masters in engineering) was offered a GS 5 part time position at the embassy. I was a GS 13 in my own agency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just resign yourself to being the CLO or accompanying contractors around the Embassy. Trailing spouses have it rough in the career dept.

Yep. I (masters in engineering) was offered a GS 5 part time position at the embassy. I was a GS 13 in my own agency.

Yikes, that sounds like career suicide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your spouse a Department of State employee?

Yes. I think I’m just getting cold feet about giving up my job even though I know it’s likely what I’ll need to do- it’s not glamorous but in my field and who knows if I could get something similar again down the road.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if you're the person in my agency who announced moving with a apouse today! If so, I hope it does work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your spouse a Department of State employee?

Yes. I think I’m just getting cold feet about giving up my job even though I know it’s likely what I’ll need to do- it’s not glamorous but in my field and who knows if I could get something similar again down the road.

10:15 again - I hear you, we went through the same thing when we were overseas. My SO hoped to work on the local economy but no dice, ended up taking an EFM admin assistant position. Worked out okay, but yeah the pay cut kinda sucked. We stayed out for only one tour as a result, fortunately SO got a job pretty fast when we returned. We're staying in DC as long as possible for now and hoping she'll be able to telework with her current job once we eventually go back out.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who was allowed to telecommute from abroad as long as she was working within the embassy network (husband was FSO). The embassy gave her a desk and she continued her job but it took a lot of fighting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are exceptions where an agency must grant spousal work abroad if the spouse is posted on an overseas assignment for the government (I know State and Justice participate in some form). Not sure how it works though worth checking out.

I have never heard of this.

To the OP - try with your agency - do they allow telework in general? If so, you could make a case for it. DETO is a thing but my understanding is that it's for State's benefit, not your agency or you. They want their $ if you are going to use ICASS services like computer/network, etc.

Check out State's Family Liaison Office (FLO) - I believe they have regional reps. Also, look at the available EFM jobs. There is also something called the professional associates program. And check with USAID or other agencies at port. Be creative and don't rule anything out.