How do I make a telecommuting policy?
California Choice
Source: California Choice – A real-time look at trending Human Resources topics.
Answer from Kara, JD, SPHR
Although some employers will be comfortable sending everyone home
with their laptop and saying, go forth and be productive, most
will want to be a little more specific. A good telecommuting
policy will generally address productivity standards, hours of
work, how and when employees should be in contact with their
manager or subordinates, and office expenses.
For instance, your policy might require that employees are
available by phone and messaging app during their regular
in-office hours, that they meet all deadlines and maintain client
contacts per usual, and that they check in with their manager at
the close of each workday to report what they have accomplished.
Be sure to let employees know whom to contact if they run into
technical difficulties at home.
You’ll also want to specify how expenses related to working from
home will be dealt with. If you don’t expect there to be any
additional expenses involved, communicate this. You don’t want
employees thinking this is their chance to purchase a standing
desk and fancy ergonomic chair on your dime. That said, you
should consider whether employees will incur reasonable and
necessary expenses while working from home. Some states mandate
reimbursement for these kinds of expenses, but it’s a good
practice to cover such costs even if it’s not required by law.
Kara practiced employment law for five years and worked in Human Resources for several years prior to that. As an attorney, she worked on many wage and hour and discrimination claims in both state and federal court. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oregon State University and earned her law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School.