Memorandum
Date: June 16, 2020
To: The Honorable Moke Simon, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Carol J. Huchingson, County Administrative Officer
Subject: Consideration of a Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2020-32, Revising and Extending the County of Lake COVID-19 Interim Policy for Working Remotely
Executive Summary: (include fiscal and staffing impact narrative):
As your Board will recall, on March 24, 2020, you acted to Adopt Resolution No. 2020-32, enabling multiple measures to promote employee and public safety and facilitate continuity of County business operations in light of COVID-19.
Among these was the County of Lake COVID-19 Interim Policy for Working Remotely. This Policy permitted employees, with Department Head approval, to work from home using County-provided equipment. Because the County had not previously allowed remote work, it was important to your Board that this policy to be explicitly temporary, and it was therefore effective for a period of 90 days.
We are now approaching the 90-day mark. Department Heads report remote work has generally functioned very well, and challenges brought by the need to deliver services without in-person contact have led to changes in business practices. In recent years, due to budgetary constraints, limited office space has been a constant challenge for many departments, and now, the option for some employees to telework has relieved pressure on offices seeking to accommodate social distancing requirements. In addition, some employees are reporting that they have issues with the care of their school age and younger children, not only with the possibly unusual school schedule coming up but the limited availability of child care, and as a result, some continued flexibility is needed for those that can continue to be productive while working remotely.
Today, I am recommending your Board extend the Interim Policy for Working Remotely by 90 days, meaning it will expire September 20, 2020, unless subsequent action is taken. Because we are now facing unprecedented revenue uncertainty brought by COVID-19, and we have a need to flexibly respond to office space and staffing challenges, work is also ongoing to develop a permanent Remote Work policy, for the consideration of your Board.
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Recommended Action: Adopt the Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2020-32, Revising and Extending the County of Lake COVID-19 Interim Policy for Working Remotely