Dear Molly,
Nowadays a lot of people are working virtually. Can CIA officers work remotely?
~ Remote Inquirer
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Dear Remote Inquirer,
Thank you for asking! This question seems to come up all the time, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shattered traditional perceptions and norms about how and where people work.
CIA officers are unique in the sense that, no matter where we are—at Headquarters or around the world—we primarily work in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) to protect our information, sources, and methods from prying eyes or those who may want to harm. This means that we have few chances to work from home or any other unsecured location.
For years, CIA has been examining how to address workplace flexibility possibilities in our line of work—of course keeping security considerations at the forefront. The Agency has several working groups dedicated to finding solutions to enhance workplace flexibilities and promote work-life effectiveness for our workforce. Officers can use flexible work schedules and benefit from an increased corporate focus on health and wellbeing, thanks to the commitment and support of the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA’s first-ever Chief Wellbeing Officer, and employee working groups.
So, Remote Inquirer, know that the Agency is continuously championing our officers’ ability to integrate work and personal needs, all while focusing on our mission—being America’s first line of defense.
~ Molly