County of Riverside Telecommuting Program
The County of Riverside is committed to offering telecommuting to employees as a flexible means to perform County work where operationally feasible. The Telecommuting Program promotes employee productivity, improved work efficiencies, cost-effectiveness, and greater environmental responsibility. Information about the County’s Telecommuting Program can be found within Board Policy K-3, Telecommuting Program.
Is Telecommuting Right for You?
- Can the work you perform be done remotely and can you successfully perform your job assignments at home?
- Are you able to devote all your efforts to County business during work hours from an alternate worksite?
- Are you aware that your work will be monitored for productivity standards?
- Are you able to adhere to assigned work hours?
- Can you provide an appropriate work environment at home, which is safe for you to perform County assignments?
- Do you already have or can your department provide the necessary equipment and resources needed for you to telecommute?
- Can you work effectively without frequent interaction with other staff members?
- Do you have stable internet connection that will be accessible during assigned telecommuting hours?
- Can you use Microsoft Teams, Webex, Skype, Jabber, and other collaboration systems effectively as communication tools?
- Will you be able to forego telecommuting whenever notified that you are needed in the office on a regularly scheduled telecommuting day?
- Are you aware that telecommuting is not intended to be a substitute for daycare or other personal obligations? Where possible, employees shall attempt to make arrangements for regular dependent care and telecommuting shall not be used as an exclusive substitute for dependent care.
- Do you agree to return County equipment and files in a timely manner, to be specified by your Supervisor/Manager, in the event that the Telecommuting Agreement is terminated/revoked?
Training
Virtual Telecommuting Fundamentals Training Courses
Learning & Organizational Development offers telecommuting courses for employees and Managers. As a requirement to participate in the County’s Telecommuting Program, the requisite training must be completed by both the employee and their Supervisor/Manager. Please refer to the Telecommuting Program Guide for information related to this training requirement.
Telecommuting Fundamentals – Employee Training
This telecommuting training gives employees a brief, practical introduction to telecommuting. It offers tools for deciding whether telecommuting is a good fit for you and for the specific job you hold. It also teaches strategies for telecommuting efficiently, staying "plugged in" to the office, and managing interactions with co-workers and customers.
Telecommuting Fundamentals – Manager Training
This telecommuting training introduces managers to basic telecommuting concepts. It walks managers through the process of developing a program, selecting employees for telecommuting, and managing effectively in a remote environment.
Important: The links below will take you to the County’s Learning Management System (LMS) where you will complete the appropriate course.
Please note: With permission, the County of Riverside is currently utilizing the US Office of Personnel Management Telework.gov training courses until we develop training courses specific to the County of Riverside’s telecommuting policy and procedures for employees and managers.
Registration Process Instructions
Accessing the Course
Once you click on the link you will be guided to the LMS login page, select “County Employees”.
The system should automatically open the page that contains both training bundles, NOTE: if it only opens the LMS home page, Select the library icon in the top left corner of the LMS page and open the Telecommuting folder.
Registering for the Course
Select either the Manager or Employee version of the course by clicking on the “Select Button” and then select Register.
This will display both E-course and the k3 policy, select “Add” for both and then select Register in the bottom right corner of the LMS window.
Starting the Course
Select the “Start” button (to the right) and a new window will display the Telework.gov website.
Select the first link labeled “Essentials of Telework”. Follow the course directions and once complete, select the exit button (bottom left of the window) and close the course window.
The LMS will ask if you have completed the course (activity) select yes and then select “Ok”.
From the LMS page labeled “Training Schedule” locate the “BOARD OF SUPERVISORS POLICY: K-3 TELECOMMUTING PROGRAM” and select the “Start” button.
This will open a new window displaying the Board policy. Review the policy then close the window containing the policy. The LMS will ask if you have completed the course (activity) select yes and then select “ok”.
The selected bundle should now be complete and will reflect on your training transcript.
- Telecommuting Fundamentals - Employee Training
- If you are an employee, with no one reporting to you, and you are, or will be, telecommuting, then the employee training is the appropriate course for you to complete.
- Telecommuting Fundamentals - Manager Training
- If you have anyone reporting to you that is, or will be, telecommuting, the manager training is the appropriate course for you to complete.
Once you have accessed either the employee or manager training course, you will be required to complete the training video and acknowledge receipt of the Board of Supervisors Policy K-3, Telecommuting Program in order to receive credit for completion and have it reflect on your COR Learning transcript.
Define your workspace
It can be easy to sit on the sofa with your laptop and expect to get work done. Experienced teleworkers will tell you they tried that, and it simply doesn’t work. Establishing a dedicated workspace, even if it is your kitchen table, gives your brain a cue that it is time for work and not play.
Master the basics
Add your telecommute schedule to your email signature line. Set up call forwarding. Know how to access the VPN in order to access your files and documents. Use Skype or Jabber to stay connected to colleagues and your manager/supervisor. Plan for video calls/meetings by making sure you know how to access the meetings online, what audio source you’ll use most effectively and how to mute/unmute, and what background your colleagues may be able to see behind you.
Get dressed and follow your routine
Getting into a work mindset at home can require you to do many things, including getting dressed for the day and following your normal morning routine. Dressing casually is definitely a perk of working at home but getting “ready for work” is a daily ritual that many telecommuters swear by. Not only does this help you get in the right mindset, but it can also be a great reminder to those around you that you are working and not enjoying a day off.
Establish daily goals and share your progress
Workdays pass amazingly quick without the comings and goings of an office to break things up or influence what you do next. Start each day by writing down what you need to achieve and then track your progress. SharePoint is a great tool for tracking work and projects. It also helps keep everyone updated on the status of all projects and assignments that the team is working on.
Eliminate distractions
Working from home can mean family members, pets, and/or a favorite hobby are only a few feet away. For family members, it may be helpful to post your working hours and create a traffic signal outside the door in the room you are working in. Red would indicate “Do Not Disturb”. Yellow would indicate “Check Before Interrupting”. The green “light” would indicate “Available”. Pets often need a closed door to keep them away. However, studies have shown pets provide comfort and lowers anxiety, so they may be a welcomed co-worker for many of you.
Stay connected
Telecommuting doesn’t have to mean that those short check-ins that happen with co-workers in the elevator, or with your boss while passing between meetings, don’t have to occur. Keeping the lines of communication open not only helps keep everyone in the know about your work and team projects, but it also assists with our social well-being. Take advantage of the many ways we have to stay connected today by using tools such as Skype, Jabber, and Microsoft Teams. Additional resources for working remotely are available in the Learning Library. Try visiting https://corlearning.sumtotal.host/rcore/c and searching “Virtual Teams”, “Staying Organized,” or other related topics for resources and training related to telecommuting for both managers and employees. Once your search list is provided, be sure to click on the tabs to access courses, books, videos, and resources to see all that is available. Even when working from home, your learning and development as an employee is critical! The Learning and Organizational Development (L&OD) Team is available to assist you with your learning and development needs. Visit the L&OD’s website at https://corlearning.rc-hr.com. To find out about our Educational Support Program, please visit https://esp.rc-hr.com.
Safety for Telecommuters
The Safety Office is available to assist with safety and ergonomic related questions. To reach the Safety Division, please call (951) 955-3520.
Toolkit
Technology Resources
Additional Safety Resources
Additional Resources for Employees
Additional Resources for Managers