Public Health Department Wants to Telecommute

Just when you think you've heard it all, I recommend that you attend a County Commissioner briefing or public meeting.

Yesterday Vicki Kirkpatrick asked Lynda and Ross to approve her proposed telecommuting policy. There was a lot of talk about reducing our carbon foot print by reducing travel time for her staff.

What makes this really hard to swallow for this tax paying citizen is that the Mason County Department of Public Health in response to a League of Women Voters' question last fall responded that this department's employees do not have performance standards. The Public Health staff's performance had not been reviewed and rated within the past year. To be fair Public Health wasn't alone in stating that there was not a performance review system in place. Kudos to the Superior and District Courts for having reviewed and rated their staffs but the courts were the exception within the county.

But back to my point, how could a department head ask to allow her staff to telecommute when the employees have no performance standards?

When the two commissioners pushed back on this request at the briefing, Vicki allowed that telecommuting would only be done with employees who enjoy a "high level of supervisor/employee trust". I heard her use the word "accountability" over and over on Tuesday but last fall when asked about performance standards she responds that her employees have none and she's waiting on HR to provide guidance.

Here's where I think as citizens we need to raise the bar on our elected officials. We need to hold them accountable. Now would be a good time for the county commissioners to get all departments to put in place performance standards for all employees falling under their operational control. The commissioners hold reviews of the department heads but do not require them to review and rate the department staffs.

I'm hoping that if the League of Women Voters asks that question again this fall they will be told that all employees' performance is being rated and reviewed by their supervisors. This should not be put off but should be given a top priority by our county commissioners.