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Merit Appeals Board <br />February 25, 2025 <br />CHR. CABANAS: I have a question, Sommer. It may not be for the January divisional report <br />but is there a move back in the County for those who work remotely from home to return to the <br />office? <br />MS. TOKIHIRO: Yes. So, the Mayor's directive was for people to return to the office. So, <br />there were telecommuting agreements in place. It was a program that we had developed after <br />COVID. But from what I understand, those telecommuting agreements are not being renewed. <br />So, once they expire, then people are to return to the office. <br />CHR. CABANAS: So, can you give me an example, like, what some of the dates might be for <br />these agreements? <br />MS. TOKIHIRO: So, the agreements were done between —it was at the discretion of the <br />department whether or not to offer telecommuting and to whom telecommuting was offered <br />because it was based on operational needs. <br />So, I couldn't tell you specifically what those dates are off the top of my head because those <br />agreements were executed between the department head, and the employee, and then the Mayor. <br />CHR. CABANAS: But they run, like, for several years? <br />MS. TOKIHIRO: Oh, no. It was supposed to be a period of a year. <br />CHR. CABANAS: Oh, I see. <br />MS. TOKIHIRO: Yeah. So, it was a period of a year and then could be renewed. So, even our <br />Alternate Work Schedule Agreement —so we have an agreement with HGEA that would allow <br />employees to work 4/10-hour days instead of a traditional 5-days per week, 8-hours per day <br />schedule. <br />So, that was a pilot program that actually expired November 30'h of 2024. And so, when the <br />Mayor took office, we asked if he would like to continue to offer that as an opportunity because <br />it was well -received, and so he agreed that he wanted that to continue. So, we're offering those <br />agreements they are now a 2-year duration. <br />So, it went from —I believe January 2025 and they'll expire December 31", 2026. And he <br />wanted to put a timeframe on that just so we could continuously re-evaluate and make sure that <br />that's working. But that's been something that a lot of employees have taken advantage of <br />having that flexibility to have an additional day off during the week, whether for childcare or just <br />to be able to get your errands done when all the other businesses are open, right. <br />CHR. CABANAS: And, but those are for what —more professional type positions or <br />Page 15 <br />