Remote Work/Telecommuting

Southwest Care Center may allow team members to work remotely if their job duties and work performance are determined to be eligible for remote work. Eligibility may be decided by the Organization on a case-by- case basis or by position (i.e., patient care positions requiring in-clinic work) unless required by state or federal law. Remote work exceptions may also be made during periods of inclement weather or public health emergencies if government orders and mandates recommend such work.

This policy provides general information regarding remote work/telecommuting. Team members who are approved to work remotely should consult their individual agreement for specific details of their remote work/telecommuting agreement, such as expected work hours, equipment provided, and other important information.

Any remote work/telecommuting agreement may be discontinued by the Organization at any time and at the discretion of the Organization. Team members may request to discontinue the agreement but are not guaranteed office space at an Organization location.

At-Will Employment
Any individual agreement addressing this work arrangement does not create a contract of employment and is not intended to be considered or construed as a promise of continued employment. Employment is at will and may be discontinued at any time by the Organization or team member without notice, cause, or liability.

Hours of Work
Team members may be approved to work full time, part time, or temporarily from home. Scheduled hours of work will be set by the team member's manager or supervisor. Team members should maintain regular contact with their supervisors and managers and meet all performance requirements of the position.

Nonexempt  team members  must be available the entirety of their assigned shift and accurately  record  all hours  worked  pursuant to the Organization's timekeeping system and take rest and meal breaks as required  by law. Non-exempt team members may not work beyond scheduled working hours (including working more than 40 hours in a workweek) or change their assigned schedule without prior, written authorization from their manager or supervisor.

Location 
Team members will provide, at their expense, a secure, dedicated work area. Team members are responsible for maintaining the work area in a safe, secure, and non-hazardous condition at all times. Team members will maintain security devices and procedures necessary to prevent use by unauthorized persons, including by preventing the connection of any Organization-furnished computer system, network, or database to any computer,  network, or database other than a computer, network, or database to which connections are provided or authorized by the Organization.

 

Duties
Where a remote work agreement is approved, the team member's duties, obligations, responsibilities, and conditions of employment with the Organization remain unchanged. Team members must stay engaged with work throughout the workday and be fully available during normal business hours. If team members do not successfully perform their job duties remotely, this arrangement will be revoked and the team member may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination. Team members are expected to follow existing Organization policies with respect to scheduled and unscheduled time off, including the obligation to speak with their manager or supervisor before the scheduled start time in the event of an unscheduled absence, tardy, or early departure.

 

Accidents and Injuries
Team members agree to maintain safe conditions in the remote work space and to practice the same safety habits and rules applied on Organization premises. If team members incur an injury arising out of the course and scope of the assigned job duties while working in the remote work space, the workers' compensation provisions in place for the state in which the team members are working will apply. Team members must notify their supervisors or manager immediately and complete all necessary and/or requested documents regarding the reported injury. The Organization assumes  no responsibility for injuries occurring in the remote work space outside normal working hours or for injuries that occur as a result of a reasonably recognizable unsafe remote work space.

 

Equipment
Team members agree to use electronic equipment that has been encrypted and meets all of the Organization's security requirements. If the Organization provides equipment for home use, team members agree to provide a secure location for Organization-owned equipment and will not use, or allow others to use, such equipment for purposes other than Organization business. Team members have no expectation of ownership in such equipment, linkages, property, or other items installed or provided by the Organization. The Organization will bear the expense of removal of any such equipment, linkages, and installations provided by the Organization upon the termination  of the remote work/telecommuting arrangement but not modification of or repairs to the work location. Team members hereby release the Organization from any damage or liability incurred in the installing or removal of the equipment provided by the Organization.

 

Return of Organization Property
All equipment, records, and materials provided by the Organization will remain Organization property. Team members agree to return Organization equipment, records, and materials upon request. All Organization equipment will be returned by team members for inspection, repair, or replacement as needed or requested or immediately upon termination of the remote work/telecommuting arrangement. All equipment must be returned within three (3) business days of written notice to the team member.
 
Expenses
Upon presentation of receipts and in accordance with the Business Expense Reimbursement policy, the Organization will reimburse team members for certain preapproved expenses. Regular household utility charges, such as electricity, water, phone, Internet service, auto, homeowners' insurance, etc., are not reimbursable unless state law requires.

 

Confidentiality
Team members agree that they are subject to the Organization's policies prohibiting the nonbusiness use or dissemination of the Organization's confidential business information. Team members will take all appropriate steps to safeguard the Organization's confidential business information, including segregating it from personal papers and documents, not allowing nonteam members to access such information, and keeping such information in locked drawers or file cabinets when not in use. Team members will maintain confidential information, including, but not limited to, information regarding the Organization's services, processing, marketing, client/patient  lists,  client/patient  e-mail addresses and mailing addresses, client/patient data, memoranda, notes, records, technical data, sketches, designs, plans, drawings, trade secrets, research and development data, experimental work, proposals, new service developments, project reports, sources of supply and material, operating and cost data, and organizational financial information.

All patient information is subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) whether team member works remotely or on-site at a Southwest Care Center physical location.

 

Contact
If team members have any questions concerning this policy or would like to apply to work remotely, they should contact their direct supervisor.

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