<p>As more federal agencies embrace telework, managers might have to come up with creative ways to get workers to use more collaborative and social media-related technology. Some agencies are finding that teleworkers are hesitant about using Web conferencing, instant messaging and other social tools, perhaps from a concern that their supervisors are looking over their shoulders.</p><p>Agriculture Department executives discussed the advantages and challenges of using collaboration tools at the FCW Executive Briefing, "Enabling Collaboration and Telework Adoption," May 30 in D.C.</p><p>USDA uses Cisco's Telepresence video conferencing and Microsoft Live Meeting technology, while employees in the field use tablets with webcams to communicate with other workers, said Robin Bailey, deputy administrator for management with USDA's Food and Nutrition Service. Within FNS, the IT group, which is dispersed throughout the country, uses collaboration and social tools and shares information with other program areas to help spur use of the tools, Bailey said.</p><p>But not all agencies within USDA have the same collaboration software. "So I might host a meeting and some coordinators, because of their agency security restrictions, are not able to use" certain collaboration tools, said Mika Cross, USDA's Work/Life and Wellness program manager. Still, there is a need to expose employees and telework coordinators to virtual environments. So Cross hosted a Google + Hangout, which allows users to have voice and video conversations, after work during National Telework Week in March, complete with avatars.</p><p><a href="http://gcn.com/articles/2013/06/03/telework-challenge-employees-resist-tools.aspx">Keep reading...</a></p>