Telecommuting and sick leave

[Guest dplowright]

We are about to have our first telecommuting employee and are unsure about how to handle issues like sick leave and other leave time. This employee will work at home most of the time, coming to our office no more than two nor three time per month. Should we handle leave time differently for the person working from home? I would appreciate any help I can get on this. Thanks

[Theresa Lynn]

I guess I am unclear why you would want to apply different rules for a telecommuter than to an in-office employee. Does the person work flexible hours? Is he/she able to work whenever he/she wants and not have to be available (and work) the same hours (and days) as those at the office site?

Although many telecommuters might be able to work more easily when sick (and are tempted to do so), I think the same rules should apply to them in determining sick leave and annual leave. If the office is closed because of weather or a natural disaster, however, telecommuters generally are expected to continue to work because they are not affected by the same uncontrollable event.

I work for a company that permits telecommuting on a formal and informal basis. The same leave applies to all employees, except for possibly office closures for weather, natural disasters, etc.

[KIP KRAUS]

OK, I give up Theresa. How does one monitor sick leave for a telecommuter?

Does one just wake up one morning and decide that he/she doesn’t want to work?

Does this person call in and say I’m sick I can’t work today, or just not work?

[Theresa Lynn]

I would think the telecommuting employee would call in sick (or do whatever is customary for that work location) the same as a worker who works on site. If you cannot trust the telecommuter to be honest about his/her state of health, then the person is not an ideal candidate for telecommuting. If you permit other employees to "call in sick" and you don't require a doctor's note for their illnesses, I have problems with seeing why you would not have the same rules and standards (and level of respect) for the telecommuter.

A boss should know that a telecommuter is working and available for work-related needs unless he/she is ill and notifies him of that situation. This is the same as if he/she were to work in a different location from a direct supervisor, which is not all that uncommon these days. Sorry. But I guess I just don't see the problem.