A Careful Walk on the Path to Telework

At an educational session at MACo’s Summer Conference, attendees heard how county governments can avoid issues when implementing telework policies.

The Honorable Eric G. Luedtke, Maryland House of Delegates moderated the session, which included panelists Joe Adler, Senior Consultant, Segal Consulting and Rhonda Weaver, County Attorney, Charles County. Both panelists have worked in several Maryland counties on telework and other employee policies.

Adler described the needed elements of a telework policy, and shared a survey of current county government telework programs.

Weaver described how worker’s compensation benefits apply to telework (hint: they do!) and gave advice on how to write a policy that protects the employee and the employer in the case of telework.

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Charles County Attorney Rhonda Weaver shares examples of what not to allow in a telework policy.

Weaver suggested the following elements be included in a policy:

  • A definition of the employee’s work space at home or offsite
  • A clarification that housework, home repairs, and child care are not included in telework
  • The list of employees who are eligible for telework
  • The processes for requesting and terminating telework

For more information, contact the speakers, Rhonda Weaver and Joe Adler.