Audit committee adopts internal-audit remote work policy, requires one in-office day per week

The Cuyahoga County Audit Committee voted to adopt a revised Department of Internal Audit remote-work policy that largely mirrors the countywide executive policy while adding department-specific provisions, including an expectation that staff coordinate to have at least one day per week where all audit staff are present in the office.

Department leadership said the policy aligns the audit department with the executive’s countywide remote-work framework while adding clearer enforcement, equipment and IT standards. Under the adopted approach, staff may apply to enter into a remote-work agreement with the director; the committee will approve any remote-work agreement submitted by the director.

Committee members debated whether the policy should specify a two-person minimum on-site requirement versus a single weekly day when all staff are scheduled in person. The committee amended the presented language to include best-effort scheduling so there is a weekly day where staff are in the office; the director will craft final language for the policy to reflect that aim.

The committee also decided the existing remote-work arrangements will remain in effect for staff who already have preapproved days until a new remote-work agreement is executed for that employee or until the next quarterly audit committee meeting, whichever occurs first.

The motion to adopt the revised policy with the amendment passed with all eligible voters recorded as voting aye.