Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Human Resources topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
La Paz County supervisors ask staff to draft revised remote-work policy with case-by-case out-of-state rules
Summary
After a lengthy discussion about legal and payroll complexity for employees working outside Arizona, the board directed staff to draft a revised remote-work policy that allows case-by-case approval for out-of-state remote hires and clarifies processes for hiring, contractors, and professional-services agreements.
La Paz County's supervisors on Nov. 3 debated how to handle remote work and whether to allow employees who live and perform work outside Arizona to remain on the county payroll.
Cheryl, who presented the agenda item and said she "was asked to put on your agenda today our remote work policy," told the board that out-of-state remote workers create extra legal obligations, including registration as an employer in the other state, different workers' compensation requirements and state tax and reimbursement rules. "Having an out of state worker requires that you know and understand the employment law in that state," she said.
Board members split on approach. One supervisor said they would not want to categorically ban out-of-state hires because it could limit recruitment for specialized needs; another urged caution, citing California's more complex rules. Several supervisors recommended considering whether to treat certain services as professional-services contracts rather than employment to reduce payroll and tax complexity.
The practical direction from the board was to ask staff to draft a revised policy that clarifies: (1) when out-of-state remote hires require prior review or approval, (2) whether current out-of-state employees would be grandfathered, and (3) when a consultant or professional-services agreement is a better option than hiring an employee. Cheryl said she would draft a policy for future board consideration.
The discussion also raised process questions about decentralization: currently department heads can hire without board approval and that practice would need adjustments if the board wanted to review out-of-state hires before offer letters go out.
What happens next: staff will draft a revised remote-work policy for the board that implements the board's case-by-case direction and clarifies administrative steps for out-of-state hiring and contractor alternatives.
