Council reviews remote-work pilot for mandatory air-action days

Rori Andreason presented a Remote Work Policy Pilot for Midvale employees designed to reduce emissions on “action” air-quality days. Matt Dahl clarified implementation details, saying that "if employees are working from home one day a week, a bad air day does not permit them to take another day" and that employees who prefer to come into the office would still be permitted to do so.

Council Member Dustin Gettel described the policy as popular with state programs and recommended making mandatory air-action days the baseline and voluntary participation otherwise, arguing this approach could reduce poor air quality if adopted by many cities. Council Member Bryant Brown favored avoiding a mandatory program requirement. Mariah Hill suggested staff also encourage alternative travel methods as part of the policy rollout. Matt Dahl and Rori Andreason said they would finalize the policy and circulate it to councilors for review before staff distribution, with a planned implementation target by the second council meeting in September.

The discussion focused on who would determine air-action days (Salt Lake County metrics were mentioned), how employees would be notified (managers and the city website), and how the policy dovetails with existing remote-work arrangements. Councilors asked staff to return with a final policy document for formal consideration.