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1 RiversideCA.gov1
RiversideCA.govCity of RiversideTelecommuting Program OverviewMay 07, 2025Human Resources Department RiversideCA.gov2
AREAS OF EXPERTISEBACKGROUND
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In March 2020, the City Council adopted the Telecommuting Program Policy to enhance workforce flexibility, help employees achieve a healthywork-life balanceand reduce greenhouse gas emissions/carbon footprint. 1 2
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2 RiversideCA.gov3
Telecommuting has become an undeniable force shaping the modern workforce and the shifting landscape of work.Its importancelies in its ability to provide significant benefits to both employees and organizations, fostering flexibility, productivity, and access to a wider talent pool. As technology continues to evolve and work preferences shift, telecommuting is likely to become an even more integral part of the future of work. IMPORTANCE OF TELECOMMUTING RiversideCA.gov4
Telecommuting allows employees to perform their job duties from outside of a traditional office environment. Telework is a benefitthat is earned, not an entitlement. Employees must demonstrate their suitability through performance and reliability. The growing benefits of telecommuting include:BENEFITS OF TELECOMMUTING•Promotes Innovation •Cost Savings•Increased Productivity & Performance•Fewer Distractions•Environmental Benefits•Expand/Retain Top Talent•Increase Employee Satisfaction•Business Continuity•Enhances Retention•Reduction in Absenteeism•Increases Collaboration•Creates a Healthy Work-Life Balance•Increases Employee Empowerment•Encourage Innovation •Boost/Improved Employee Morale•Reduced Stress Levels•Overhead Reduction •Fosters Inclusivity for a Diverse Workforce•Improved Customer Service•Reduce Turnover•Reduce Burnout or Fatigue at Work3 4 5/2/2025
3 RiversideCA.gov5
TECHNOLOGY IS POWERING A SEAMLESS AND SECURE WORK EXPERIENCECommunication ToolsEmployees use Avaya phone app and Microsoft Office 365 for effective communication. These tools enhance collaboration and accessibility.Secure Remote AccessVPNs facilitate secure connections for remote work, ensuring data protection and privacy for employees working from home.Essential Security MeasuresMulti-factor authentication and endpoint detection safeguard sensitive information during telecommuting.Maintaining EfficiencyRemote patching and security protocols ensure efficient operations without compromising on security.
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While the benefits of telecommuting are significant, successful telecommuting programs requires addressing potential challenges to maximize its potential. The challenges associated with telework include: CHALLENGES OF TELECOMMUTING•Security Concerns•Communication & Collaboration•Technology & Infrastructure•Performance Management•Telecommuting is Not for Everyone•Blurring of Work-Life Boundaries•Distractions at Home•Maintaining Employee Engagement•Team Culture•Feeling Isolated5 6 5/2/2025
4 RiversideCA.gov7
POTENTIAL IMPACT OF ELIMINATING REMOTE WORK29% of current hybrid employees with remote capable jobs say they are extremely likely to search for employment elsewhere if they are not allowed remote flexibility.
High Risk of Turnover for U.S. Remote-CapableEmployees if not Allowed Remote FlexibilityIf your employer decides not to offer opportunities for you to work remote some or all of the time long term, how likely would you be to look for opportunities for employment with other organizations? RiversideCA.gov8
2024 TURNOVER RATE BY DEPARTMENT
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5 RiversideCA.gov9
HOW IT WORKS IN RIVERSIDE•Employees must communicate their interest in the Telework Program to their supervisor•Discuss a schedule that aligns with the operational needs of the department and the specific job class•Complete the Authorization to Telecommute Form•Upload documents securely via One Solution•Track Progress in real-time•Engage with team members RiversideCA.gov10
REAL TIME STATUS TRACKINGEmployeesTelecommuting21.38%Employees NotTelecommuting78.62%Employee Telecommute by DepartmentsEmployee Telecommute by Bargaining Unit 9 10
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6 RiversideCA.gov11
NUMBER OF TELECOMMUTERS BY DEPARTMENT
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FOSTERING SUCCESS•Design new approaches to engage, evaluate, educate, organize and inform workers (communicate expectations). •Empower teams to work as one. We think hybrid work is best suited for this. •Train workers to adapt to a new environment and cope with challenges it poses.•Monitor teleworking carefully and react quickly to adjust any unintended negative consequences. •Build a healthy and nurturing hybrid work environment focusing on employee engagement.For telecommuting to be effective and successful on an ongoing basis we must:11 12 5/2/2025
7 RiversideCA.gov13
To ensure the effectiveness and continued improvement of our telecommuting program, HR will track and evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs). Our measurement approach will include:•Employee Engagement Survey – Launch Spring 2025•Pulse Survey – Launch Fall 2025•Revised Performance Evaluation – Launch Summer 2026The collected data will guide continuous improvement and demonstrate the program’s value to both employee and the City.MEASURING RESULTS RiversideCA.gov14
•51% of employees who telecommuteare fully engaged•Only 31% of employees who do not telecommuteare fully engagedA GREATER PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES WHO TELECOMMUTE ARE “FULLY ENGAGED”Source: City of Riverside 2022 Employee Engagement Survey 13 14
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8 RiversideCA.gov15
HYBRID WORK CONTRIBUTES TO HIGHER ENGAGEMENT2024 Gallup research shows that individuals who work a hybrid schedule have the highest engagement (35% engaged).Onsite with a remote-capable job (27% engaged).On-site & not remote capable had the lowest engagement (25% engaged).Employee Engagement Lowest for On-Site Employees RiversideCA.gov16
IMPACT OF TELECOMMUTING ON DAY-TO-DAY PERFORMANCE•58% of employees who telecommute say that working remotely has had no impact on their day-to-day performance.•27% say working remotely has had some impact on their performance.NoImpact58%Some Impact27%MajorImpact15%Major Impact66 EmployeesSome Impact118 EmployeesNo Impact255 Employees15 16 5/2/2025
9 RiversideCA.gov17
EMPLOYEES WANT HYBRID WORK IN THE FUTUREIn the future, post-COVID, how often would you prefer to work remotely?Hybrid of working on-site and telecommuting287 EmployeesTelecommuting – all the time137 EmployeesNo Telecommuting – all on-site15 EmployeesHybrid of working on-site and telecommuting66%Telecommuting– all the time31%No Telecommuting – all on-site3% RiversideCA.gov18
FUTURE EXPECTATIONSOver half ofremote-capable workers say they expect and prefer hybrid work in the future.
Over half of U.S. Remote-Capable Employees Expect and Prefer Hybrid Work% Remote-capable employees working(or expecting or preferring to work) at each location17 18 5/2/2025
10 RiversideCA.gov19
HYBRID WORK IS PREFERRED BY ALL GENERATIONSFor individuals with a remote-capable job, all generations prefer hybrid work over fully on-site and fully remote.A fully on-site schedule was the lowest preferred of all individuals surveyed.
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THE IDEAL OFFICE BALANCE2-3 Days Per Week is PreferredGallup datashows that2-3 days in the office during a typical week leadsto the highest employee engagement, reduces burnout, and decreases an employee’s “intention to leave” 19 20
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11 RiversideCA.gov21
NEXT STEPSAll telecommuting arrangements are evaluated annually and as needed to ensure productivity and satisfactory service levels are maintained for external and internal customers.The Human Resources Departments recommends on-going program assessments and refinements to ensure long-term sustainability and effectiveness. 21