Establish and Fund Dependent Care Programs

3. Expand the authority to establish and fund dependent care programs.

By fall 1994, the director of OPM should submit proposed legislation to
Congress removing statutory limitations on dependent care programs and
giving agencies the authority to focus on the needs of their employees
and develop programs that will enhance organizational effectiveness and
improve employee productivity.(22)

Agencies should work with employees to develop the most effective and
beneficial ways to meet the needs of a workforce struggling with the
responsibilities of child care, elder care, and caring for ill family
members. Agencies could decide to implement sliding fee payment
schedules for dependent care, contribute financial resources to
privately led consortia, allow reimbursement of dependent care expenses
incurred as a result of emergency assignments or emergency travel,
and/or permit employees to use official time to carry out
responsibilities associated with membership on a federally sponsored
center's board of directors.

Endnotes

22. Title 40, United States Code, sec. 490(b); and Title 18, United
States Code, sec. 203(a).