State shifts to telework as much as possible during COVID surge

JUNEAU (AP) — The state plans to emphasize telework for many of its 14,000 employees this month as the COVID-19 pandemic strains Alaska’s health care system.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, in a memo to state department leaders, said the state “must take measures to protect its health care infrastructure while still providing essential government services to its residents.” He wrote that effective Sept. 27, the state will emphasize telework “to the maximum extent practical,” while still maintaining public services.

The policy will remain in effect until Oct. 29, he said. Any extensions would be decided later.

Brian Penner, director of the union that represents supervisory employees, said the decision was welcome.

“We’ve been hearing from supervisors who are not only concerned about their own safety, but concerned about the people they supervise,” he said, adding that the action “should’ve happened earlier.”

Alaska is in the midst of a surge in COVID-19 cases, averaging more than 1,000 new infections a day over the past few weeks. Health care leaders say hospitals face capacity issues, with staff overtaxed. Alaska is spending millions of federal dollars to bring in several hundred out-of-state health care professionals to help cover the workload.

More than 6,000 state employees were asked to work from home last year. That shifted earlier this year to a “hybrid” system where employees could work from home or the office.

Kate Sheehan, director of the state division of personnel and labor relations, said details of the new shift are being worked out at the agency and division level.

In an email to state labor leaders, Sheehan said, “For the next 30 days, those employees who can telework, should telework full time. We will still need to keep offices open,” and management will figure out a plan for that.

 

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