The state plans to end the colored tier system of health restrictions on June 15, allowing all businesses to reopen, with certain modifications in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. In preparation, the city has successfully begun the process of expanding in person services.
We have all been through an unforgettable 14 months, and I could not be prouder of how this organization quickly adapted to new ways of working and delivering services to our community. This includes the transition of more than 500 employees to remote work practically overnight.
Luckily, we were not starting from scratch. Our most recent employee engagement survey found that increased flexibility was something very important to our workforce. In fact, we had been developing pilot programs for telecommuting and flexible work schedules when COVID hit. Needless to say, the global pandemic greatly accelerated our plans!
We have learned a lot from this experience, most notably that telecommuting can not only work in a government setting, it can lead to even greater productivity and employee satisfaction, among other benefits.
We have used our experience over the past year to refine our telecommuting program so that it can be offered on an ongoing basis.
Given the diversity of city services, telecommuting won’t work for everyone who might be interested. And, unlike during COVID, no one will work remotely 100% of the time. Our goal with this program is to provide greater flexibility to our workforce while maintaining the highest level of service to our community and a strong sense of teamwork among city staff.
If you are interested in this program, please read through the policy and set up a time to talk about options with your supervisor. The updated Administrative Order is attached, and here is a link to the application.
Take care, and thank you very much for your remarkable service.