Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas

various images of families and people working from home

General Information

Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas (DETOs) are HHS employees on the U.S. Government orders of a sponsoring employee assigned overseas who have approved arrangements to temporarily perform the work and duties of their domestic Federal positions from approved overseas locations.

DETO arrangements help the NIH retain talent and enable employees to maintain their careers and families’ financial stability while supporting their spouses or domestic partners serving overseas.

Sponsored DETO

These are DETOs who are on the orders of a U.S. Government-employed spouse assigned abroad on Government orders. HHS only allows its employees to work overseas under sponsored DETO agreements.

Independent DETO

These are DETOs who are not on the orders of a U.S. Government-employed spouse assigned abroad on Government orders.  HHS does not allow independent DETOs for its employees.

Contractors

Please note that DETO arrangements are for eligible federal employees. Contractors should direct their overseas-related work questions to their contract companies.

Need More Information?

The Office of Human Resources is dedicated to offering guidance and direction to NIH staff to help them navigate and understand this workplace flexibility. If you are an NIH employee interested in learning more about the DETO approval process, please contact the NIH Office of Human Resources, Compensation and Policy Division, Title 5 Staffing and Accountability Team at: T5PolicyTeam@od.nih.gov.