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Klamath County commissioners debate criteria for remote‑work exceptions; board seeks public process
Summary
Commissioners discussed establishment of transparent criteria for exceptions to the county's work‑on‑site expectation, directing HR to present requests publicly and deferring broader policy decisions until a new HR director starts March 17.
The Klamath County Board of Commissioners spent a substantive portion of its Feb. 25 administrative meeting discussing how to evaluate exceptions to the county’s expectation that most staff work on site. Commissioners and human resources staff said they want an objective, public and consistent process to avoid the perception that exceptions are arbitrary or based on personal preference.
Human Resources lead Andrea Lissette told the board that several departments had submitted exception requests. Commissioners and HR discussed common examples where remote work might be appropriate — roles that are primarily technical (for example, specialized engineering design or epidemiology) or where staff can demonstrate they cannot be recruited locally — and roles where remote work is less suitable, such as public‑facing positions and front‑line supervisors.
Board direction and next steps: Commissioners directed that exception requests be reviewed in a public council and human resources meeting and asked HR to issue a memo explaining the process to staff and the public. Commissioners also agreed it would be useful to include notice that the county’s incoming HR director will begin on March 17, and that HR should work with department heads on written justifications before requests reach the board.
Why it matters: Commissioners said consistent public review would reduce perceptions of unfairness and increase transparency. Several members emphasized that department heads should vet requests carefully and that the board should be the final arbiter for exceptions to ensure consistency across departments.
Quotes (selected): "If you are public facing, I don't see how you serve the public working remotely. If you are in a supervisory position, I do not see how you supervise people when you're working from home," one commissioner said during the discussion.
Ending: HR will circulate a memo describing the timetable and process; the board expects to review exception requests in a public forum in the coming weeks. The board did not adopt a formal written policy during the Feb. 25 meeting.
