Commissioners approve employee work from home policy

BELLAIRE — During a virtual evening meeting held last Thursday, Sept. 17, Antrim County's Board of Commissioners approved a temporary work from home policy, where feasible, for county employees, and agreed to put together an informal committee to improve the communication process in the health and building department permit process. 

Speaking during public comment, County Clerk's office employee Micki Hocking noted the many large corporations, such as GM and Ford, as well as other county offices, such as Grand Traverse County, that are allowing employees to work from home, adding that she believed that anyone who thinks an employee cannot perform their work duties from home, given today's technology, indicates a lack of faith in that employee. 

Commissioner Josh Watrous voiced his concerns about an employee's ability to do their job from home in the presence of children that may also be at home, as well as his concerns about possible liability. Administrator Pete Garwood noted that all work must be documented, as well as logged.

"The real proof is, I guess, is when they indicate the work they've done in their log, we can check and make sure that's true," he said.

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