(A) Telecommuting allows employees to work from home occasionally or for a portion of their regular workweek. Telecommuting is a voluntary work alternative that may be appropriate for certain employees and certain jobs. Telecommuting is not an entitlement or a town-wide benefit and it in no way changes the terms and conditions of employment with the town.
(B) Telecommuting arrangements are made on a case-by-case basis, focusing first on the business needs of the town. All telecommuting arrangements must have the advanced approval from the Town Manager, or the Town Council prior to implementation. The employee and his or her supervisor may agree on the number of days of telecommuting allowed each week, the work schedule the employee customarily maintains, and the manner and frequency of communication. The employee agrees to be accessible by phone within a reasonable time period during the agreed-upon work schedule. The Town Manager, or the Town Council, reserves the right to terminate any telecommuting arrangement with any employee at any time. For employees who are permitted to telecommute, the guidelines contained in this policy should be followed.
(C) Each telecommuting employee must make arrangements with the Town Manager, or the Town Council, regarding the use of company-owned equipment in the employee’s home or in a satellite location. In no event may the use of that equipment impede the town’s access to the equipment, nor change the town’s ownership of the equipment. Town-owned equipment is to be used for work purposes only. The employee may be required to sign an inventory of all company-owned equipment and must agree to take appropriate action to protect the items from damage and theft.
(D) Telecommuting employees should be aware that the town is not responsible for insuring the telecommuter’s equipment in their home and that the town reserves the right to make determinations as to appropriate equipment, subject to change at any time. If the employee is using his or her own equipment and it breaks while performing work for the town, the town is not liable for incurred replacement costs. Upon termination of employment all town-owned equipment must be returned to the town unless other arrangements have been made.
(E) The town may reimburse the employee for other work-related expenses such as phone calls and shipping costs that are reasonably incurred in accordance with job responsibilities.
(Ord. 2020-26, passed 1-12-21)