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TELEWORK <br /> <br /> <br />It is the policy of the City of Lake Elmo to permit employees, under certain circumstances, to conduct work remotely. Telework is intended to provide a flexible work location for eligible employees and business- <br />related benefits to the City, including attracting and retaining a skilled workforce, supporting continuity of <br />operations, and maximizing efficiency and cost savings. Telework arrangements are a business and <br />workplace strategy, not an employee benefit or employee right, and approval or denial is at the sole <br />discretion of the City. Telework may not be an option for all employees depending on factors that may <br />include but not be limited to, employee job performance and current job duties, the business needs of the <br />department and its customers. This policy guides the practice of working from locations other than City <br />office buildings or properties and provides standards and expectations for all City telework arrangements. <br /> <br />Teleworkers will always be cognizant of the public's expectation of efficient, effective, and responsive service <br />from all City employees. Both actual and apparent conflicts with this expectation must be avoided and the <br />existence of any such conflicts will result in termination of the telework arrangement and/or disciplinary <br />action. <br /> DEFINITIONS <br /> <br />Telework: A work arrangement approved by the department director and city administrator that permits <br />employees to work offsite in their homes or other approved location other than City buildings or properties. <br /> <br />City work conducted by employees at a non-City work site as required by their functional job responsibilities <br />is not considered telework (e.g., building inspectors at a building site, firefighters on a call). Exempt staff <br />performing incidental tasks (e.g., checking email, responding to voicemails, etc.) while on unpaid time (e.g., <br />Paid time off, or after work hours) is not considered telework. <br /> <br />Teleworker: An employee who is authorized to work remotely. No employee may telework exclusively. <br /> Onsite worker: An employee whose job cannot be performed from a telework location and/or who is not <br />authorized to telework, or chooses not to telework. <br /> Telework location: An approved location other than City buildings, typically an employee’s home, at which <br />the employee is authorized to telework. <br /> Primary work location: The City building which is the employee’s assigned work location when working <br />onsite. All employees will have a primary work location and must be prepared to work at that location when <br />required. <br /> <br />Telework Schedule: Work arrangement, including hours and days of work, agreed to by the teleworker and the <br />department director, reflected in the Telework Agreement, during which the employee will be working remotely. <br />Telework schedules may vary by job or employee but will generally be consistent with those of their <br />department and colleagues. TELEWORK OPTIONS <br /> Routine/Long-Term – a telework arrangement that lasts for more than four (4) weeks where employees <br />may work remotely up to two (2) days per week. Telework days are regular, scheduled agreed upon days that <br />do not vary from week to week (e.g. every Tuesday). <br /> <br />Emergency/Short-Term – an unexpected telework arrangement where employees may temporarily work <br />remotely due to varied circumstances. The arrangement must be beneficial to the City and will be approved <br />on a case by case basis. This work agreement must meet all requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act <br />(FLSA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and disability insurance claims, if applicable. Situational/Intermittent – May be planned or unplanned. Telework days are approved by the supervisor <br />on an as-needed basis. Employees wishing to have this telework arrangement must complete the telework <br />agreement prior to requesting any intermittent telework days. For example, an employee may work from <br />home when there is inclement weather, they have a repair service coming to the home, or they want