Agenda - Council Work Session - 08/22/2017

Home

11.5 Telecommuting Policy Telecommuting is a work arrangement where the employee works from home or another remote work site away from the primary traditional work place. Purpose Consideration for telecommuting arrangements may be made on a case by case basis and only in situations where the employee can demonstrate a benefit to the City. Telecommuting is not appropriate for all employees, it is not a City wide benefit or entitlement, in no way changes the terms and conditions of employment with the City and is not a substitute for dependent care. Participation Full-time employees, except those under collective bargaining agreements, may apply to participate. Employees must have successfully completed probation, received a satisfactory rating on their last performance evaluation and not had any disciplinary action taken against them during the past year. Seniority will not be a basis for selecting employees to participate in this program. Application Process The telecommuting application must be completed indicating how the telecommuting will benefit the City. All applications must be signed by the Department Head and then forwarded to Human Resources. The Depailinent Head, Human Resources and the City Administrator will evaluate the application to determine whether or not the application will be approved or denied, at the sole discretion of the City Administrator. The Department Head will then meet with the employee regarding the determination. Telecommuting Program It is recommended that employees who telecommute do so for a maximum of two days per week, or on a short-term project basis. The telecommuter and the Department Head should agree upon a regular schedule of work hours and work location. Following the regular work schedule is necessary to ensure maximum accessibility. However, the employee must be willing and able to return to the primary work place at the request of the Depailinent Head for any reason with minimal notice. An employee's salary, benefits and job responsibilities will not be affected by participating in telecommuting. Overtime must have prior approval. A remote work site is considered a City work space and the employee, therefore, continues to be governed by applicable City policies, procedures, or practices. The employee is to be available for telephone, computer and/or fax communication with the City at the times as agreed by the signers on the application. The employee will respond to telephone calls at the telecommuting work location, and will respond to telephone messages left for the employee at the employee's City work location. The Depaitinent Head and telecommuter must establish an agreed upon schedule where the telecommuter contacts the office to report progress. The telecommuting projects must have measurable objectives. For example, writing a section of a manual, working on a special project, or preparing spreadsheets and financial analysis 701Page