Statement by Labor Secretary Alexis Herman. Re: Withdrawal of OSHA Telecommuter Regulation Opinion. Date: January 5, 2000. Source: OSHA. The document was created by scanning a fax copy, and converting to HTML.

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY HERMAN

OSHA's November 15, 1999, letter to one employer provided guidance to him on his employees working at home. While this employer has received the guidance he needs, the letter has caused widespread confusion and unintended consequences for others. Therefore OSHA is withdrawing the letter today.

Since Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1971, employers have had the responsibility for making sure that all employees work in safe and healthful conditions. Given the changing nature of work in the 21st century, yesterday I called for a national dialogue to determine what the rules and policies should be for America's workers. Over the past two days, I have spoken individually with business and labor leaders. To begin this dialogue, I will host a meeting of national business and labor leaders and other interested parties in the near future.

Family-friendly flexible and fair work arrangements, including telecommuting, can benefit individual employees and their families, employers and society as a whole. As part of this continuing effort, I will ask the National Economic Council to convene an interagency working group, including the Department of Commerce, the Small Business Administration and others, to examine the broad social and economic effects of telecommuting. As Secretary of Labor, I remain committed to policies that both strengthen families and protect workers on the job.