DOL delivers telework solutions amid the COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 has forced changes in the day-to-day work of the American public. With a skyrocketing demand for critical DOL services such as benefits claims and unemployment insurance, the Department’s workforce amplified its efforts to ensure continuity of operations and mission.
With more than 91% of DOL's nationwide staff teleworking, the OCIO ramped up bandwidth and expanded high-impact IT solutions critical to the DOL mission.
Some of the agency websites surging in page visits include:
- DOL.gov has seen a 99% increase as people filed for workers' compensation as a first responder
- BLS.gov has seen a 97% increase as people searched for statistics on unemployment job figures
- Benefits.gov has seen a 97% increase as people searched for guidance on continued medical coverage
- OSHA.gov has seen a 82% increase as people sought guidance on workplace safety and personal protective equipment
- OCIO rapidly analyzed and addressed the needs of an increasingly digital workforce while maintaining a secure IT infrastructure - remaining ahead of the curve.
A few proactive enterprising OCIO solutions include:
- Migrating over 30 applications to the cloud for increased speed and security.
- Supplying Wi-Fi and network upgrades to 195 offices for communications and connectivity tools.
- Launching collaborative workspace technology and external video conference lines.
- Authorizing a laptop leasing program for more than 15,000 staff to maintain an inventory pool of 6-10%.
- Facilitating seamless virtual onboarding for more than 740 staff nationwide by distributing laptops through the DOL's 12 regional offices.
- Including digital signature capabilities on all laptops to facilitate faster form processing and approvals.
- Optimizing the VPN to improve routing, making remote connections quicker and safer.
As DOL received an influx of calls - Wage and Hour Division has received 9,000 phone calls in a day, for example - OCIO provided more teleconference and video conference solutions. As agency IT needs surged, OCIO responded with the expansion of digital meeting tools and telework resources - all in support of front-line demand for DOL critical services.
OCIO's work before and during the pandemic ensures employees operate efficiently and safely regardless of the changing work environment.