March 25, 2020
Good Afternoon,
Once again, I would like to state that WCRC is a critical infrastructure workplace and that each employee has a job that directly or indirectly enables us to provide essential services to Washtenaw County and that each job needs to be performed for us to deliver these services.
As a result of the Governor’s Executive Order, we will be implementing more changes to the way we serve our community and provide these essential services. Effective March 26, 2020, all employees will be considered “remote workers”.
What This Means for Operation Field Employees
Includes: Heavy truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, mechanics, group leaders, facilities, signs, signals
- Starting Thursday, March 26 through at least Monday, April 13, 2020, each employee will receive a daily assignment from their supervisor the afternoon before. If we do not have an essential duty for you to perform, your assignment will be to stay home until you are notified otherwise.
- If you are assigned to stay home that day, you may be subject to a call at any time during your normal work hours to report for duty. If you are called during your normal work hours, you will have 1 hour to report to your assigned county vehicle.
- Each workday that you are reporting to a WCRC facility, you must report directly to your assigned county vehicle and not to a common area at the yard.
- Workdays during this special operational period should be treated as a regular workday regardless if you start your day at a WCRC facility or at home. That means all employees will be dressed, drug and alcohol-free and ready to work at all times during the normal work hours (Monday – Thursday, 6 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).
- You will be paid straight time, including all applicable benefits, for the 10-hour day regardless if you are called to report to a WCRC facility.
- Tasks will be focused on essential work functions that can be completed individually although there may be times when more than one person is necessary to complete the task. Essential work functions include emergency response, road surface maintenance and drainage improvements and the preparatory tasks needed to support these functions.
- If you do not answer the foreman’s call or are otherwise unavailable to work, it will be considered time off that will be deducted from your annual leave bank. If you do not have annual leave remaining, the time will be unpaid.
- We have suspended the use of kiosk for field employees. Instead, you will report all hours worked, equipment and materials to your supervisor via email or text at the end of each day.
- If your assignment was to stay home that day, you still need to report via email or text to your supervisor your 10-hour day with no equipment or materials.
- If you choose to take annual leave, submit your request via email or text to your supervisor. Supervisors should email approved requests to Lori Hackbarth for record keeping no later than 8 a.m. each day.
- A call-in does not constitute a 4-hour minimum unless you are called after your normal work hours.
- After-hour call-ins will operate as normal during this special operational period.
What This Means for Supervisors
- Foremen will report to their yard each morning and are expected to patrol their districts to assess needs for critical maintenance.
- Maintenance supervisor will also report to assess the need for mechanics to come in.
- Facilities supervisor will also report to assess the need for facilities staff to report.
- Supervisors will communicate work assignments with employees via text or phone call. Every effort will be made to make next day work assignments the day before.
What This Means for Office Employees
Includes: Clerks, engineers, admin staff, GIS technician
- If you are working remotely, you will continue to work remotely during your regular schedule.
- If you must come into the office for a specific task, you will limit interactions with others and practice social distancing at all times.
What this Means for Employees Involved in Construction Projects
Includes: Inspectors, weighmasters, surveyor, engineers, engineering technicians
- Contracted and permitted construction projects will continue as scheduled and allowed under the Governor’s executive order.
- Field staff and weighmasters must practice social distancing whenever interacting with contractors or other personnel.
On most contracted projects, WCRC is still subject to strict financial penalties if we choose to delay projects. MDOT officials have stated that projects should continue as scheduled even during the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe, Save Lives order period. We will continue to seek guidance from MDOT on this issue and we will continue to work with our contractors to ensure safety measures are being strictly followed.
Questions?
I know we are asking everyone to work differently. If you have questions or concerns about this process, please reach out to your supervisor, director or me.
I ask for your patience as we implement this new process, there will be hiccups, but I know we work them out together. We are doing our best to keep up with the ever-evolving situation while continuing to meet the legislative mandates on our road system and providing the safest environment possible for all employees.
Thanks, as always and stay safe,
Sheryl
