HCA Telecommuting Update - March 22, 2022

Dear OCEA member,

Following HCA’s announcement of their telecommuting policy, we began to hear from OCEA members about issues with policy implementation and inconsistencies across programs. For example, some service areas implemented the policy as early as March 1 and imposed more restrictive limits on the number of telecommuting days available to workers without providing a reason. This arbitrary policy and inconsistent application across the agency created confusion, impacted workplace morale, and was disruptive to HCA employees and their families. We immediately conducted a survey, met with HCA Stewards, and demanded to meet with Dr. Chau and agency representatives to share your concerns.

On Monday morning, Agency Director Dr. Chau, (Interim) Assistant Agency Director Mindy Winterswyk, and HCA Chief of Human Resources Jennifer Kaye met with frontline HCA workers and OCEA staff. During the meeting, the Agency executives had the opportunity to hear directly from HCA workers. These workers courageously shared the concerns many employees have about the telecommute policy as well as about HCA’s culture. They shared how it felt to receive the policy, only to be granted an insufficient amount of time to submit their requests or to discuss individual program needs with management. An arbitrary policy applied across an agency or division does not meet the unique needs of workers in different roles or the clients they serve.

Your OCEA representatives also informed Dr. Chau that over 300 OCEA-represented HCA employees participated in a survey and that 82% confirmed that inflexible and arbitrary limits on telecommuting work arrangements would motivate them to leave County service; we have to prevent that from occurring.

At the conclusion of the meeting, OCEA made key action demands: provide employees the clear, reasonable, and rational explanations they deserve if telecommuting cannot be accommodated; expand telecommuting opportunities; and commit to no arbitrary limits on telecommuting. From our discussion we expect HCA to significantly increase communication with you. Dr. Chau made an immediate commitment to continue the telecommuting discussion at the OCEA/HCA Labor Management Committee (LMC) meetings. If you’d like more information or are interested in getting involved with the LMC you can access information and applications on the LMC page on the HCA Intranet.

Thanks to workers using their collective voice in the workplace and OCEA advocacy, some improvements were made in some areas prior to Monday’s meeting. However, there is much work still to be done. If your telecommuting request has been denied without reason, please reach out to one of your OCEA representatives. You can also get more involved with OCEA here.

In Solidarity,

Charles Barfield
OCEA General Manager

Publication Date: March 22, 2022