Woodbury County HR to revise mobile-device policy after departments request exemptions for field and hourly staff

Human Resources Director Melissa Thomas briefed the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors on the county's mobile application management (MAM) policy and ongoing work to craft limited exemptions for certain employees.

"This policy was passed last fall," Melissa Thomas said, explaining that "all employees approved to use their personal mobile device accessing county organizational data must be enrolled in the mobile application management solution." She said the policy excludes hourly employees because checking email off the clock can be compensable under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Department leaders described operational reasons for exemptions. "Our employees aren't in the office; they're out in the field," said Heisel, director of Woodbury County Conservation. Heisel told the board conservation staff rely on Outlook calendars for reservations and scheduling and that access while working in parks or at schools is part of their regular duties, not after-hours work. He requested that the county consider an exception or an "out of office punch" to compensate short, work-related checks of email.

Laura Severs of secondary roads said the request is narrowly focused: mobile access during work hours for projects, contractors and materials management. She noted union rules require pre-approval of overtime, which would limit off-hour work without approval.

Thomas said HR is drafting a specific policy addressing off-hour checks and other practical concerns, including potential FOIA access to personal devices and how requests would be handled. She told the board she has discussed legal implications with county counsel and plans to return with a proposed revision in the next weeks for formal action.

No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; the item was presented for information and staff will return with a recommended revision for board consideration.