Telework if you can.
That’s the order Gov. Tom Wolf issued to state workers at the Capitol and in Dauphin County early Monday as yet another measure to try curtail the spread of the coronavirus that is grinding public life to a near halt.
The alert issued by the Pennsylvania Office of Administration is as follows:
"IMPORTANT: Essential employees assigned to 24/7 facilities and other critical operations should follow specific guidance from their agency supervisory staff with the ultimate goal of maintaining operations. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, Commonwealth employees who work in Dauphin County and the Capitol Complex are directed to follow the instruction provided below beginning tomorrow, MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2020 and extending for a period of 14 days:
"If you are currently equipped to telework and have the necessary equipment with you, please begin to do so starting (Monday).
"If you are able to telework but need to obtain the necessary equipment from your office, please report to work to obtain what you need in order to effectively telework. Upon retrieval of needed equipment, return home to begin working from home for the remainder of the day.
"If you are unsure if you are able to telework, please consult with your supervisor. In all instances where employees report to work, such employees are authorized to be released four (4) hours before their normal quitting times. This early release is subject to the provisions of Management Directive 530.17, Partial and Full-Day Closings of State Offices. If your supervisory staff determines you are unable to telework during the remainder of the 14-day period, you will be authorized for a Paid Office Closing, subject to the provisions of Management Directive 530.17, Partial and Full-Day Closings of State Offices.
“Paid office closing (POC) absences must be entered for non-essential employees who work overtime or out-of-class within the same week of an office closing, if the employee is eligible for payment during an office closing in accordance with Management Directive 530.17. Further guidance will be provided to all commonwealth managers and supervisors to respond to questions and ensure the proper handling of this situation.”
Thousands of state workers will be affected by this latest order. It comes as municipal, court and other governmental offices have sharply limited their person-to person contact. Some businesses have either shut down or, like PennLive, have ordered their employees to work from home where possible.
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