JUST LIKE EMPLOYERS in the private sector, the state’s constitutional officers have different stances on hybrid work schedules.
The governor and the secretary of the Commonwealth for the most part don’t allow employees to work from home, while the attorney general, the treasurer, and the auditor all do.
Working remotely, which became standard operating procedure during the Covid-19 pandemic, offers numerous benefits, including less commuting time, reduced traffic congestion, less environmental pollution, lower office energy consumption, and better work/life balance.
The downside of working remotely is less interaction with co-workers, reduced supervisory oversight, distractions at home, and an inability to properly mentor new employees and interns. Also, working from home is impossible with jobs that deal directly with the public.
“Staff are required to work in person Monday to Friday with very few exceptions,” said Karissa Hand, a spokesperson for Gov. Maura Healey’s office. “The governor’s office is a fast-paced, high-demand work environment. We believe that having employees working in-person is beneficial to our efforts to meet these demands, provide effective and efficient service to the people of Massachusetts, and build a strong team environment.”
A spokesperson for Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin offered a different rationale for not allowing staff to work remotely. “The standard policy of this office is that employees work at their assigned workplace,” said Debra O’Malley. “Many of our divisions are public-facing, requiring most employees to be present to accept filings in person.”
Attorney General Andrea Campbell and Treasurer Deborah Goldberg both give their staff up to three teleworking days a week, while Auditor Diana DiZoglio offers her employees up to two days.
Campbell’s teleworking policy makes note of some of the downsides of working remotely, particularly the absence of opportunities for collaboration and camaraderie. “Managers may require that all staff be physically present in the office on at least one ‘core day’ per week to advance these values,” the policy states.
The treasurer’s policy on remote work says teleworkers are not eligible to receive overtime or compensatory time while working remotely. The policy says remote workers are subject to inspections of home work spaces.
“The treasury retains the right to make an on-site inspection of the designated workspace at a mutually agreed upon time,” the policy states.
Even though Healey eschews teleworking for all her State House staff, the executive agencies under her authority offer teleworking to their employees, with numerous provisions to which they must agree in writing, according to the policy.
For example, teleworkers must be available by phone and email, they must comply with all security and confidentiality measures, and they cannot perform caregiving activities while working from home.
Other provisions include the state is not liable for any damage to the employees’ property that results from teleworking as well as not being responsible for operating costs, home maintenance, and any incidental costs associated with the employees’ use of their residence for telework. Meanwhile, though, workers’ compensation is still in effect while working at home.
Virtual meetings are an essential component of teleworking. One agency — the Executive Office of Health and Human Services — has a list of 15 behaviors that agency teleworkers must adhere to at these meetings, including not playing video games, not doing online shopping, and not snapping gum.
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