HCA - Urgent Update from OCEA

OCEA member,

As you all know, HCA management unilaterally amended its telecommuting policy. This amended policy includes completely unnecessary telecommuting restrictions establishing an arbitrary maximum number of hours an employee is allowed to telecommute per pay period. This arbitrary restriction was implemented without any consideration of workers’ needs, workplace morale, or what it might achieve other than disrupting the lives of HCA employees and their families.

HCA’s decision to implement this arbitrary and unnecessary change to the telecommuting policy is unfair and disappointing. OCEA representatives have immediately demanded to meet with Dr. Chau and County HR. We are also escalating our demands to the County CEO and the County Board of Supervisors.

Prior to the implementation of the change, OCEA representatives met with HCA Human Resources and outlined how this change would negatively impact morale and cause unnecessary stress and anxiety. We also stressed the importance of allowing individual programs to decide what works best for their employees. During the last two years HCA employees have demonstrated their commitment to continue serving Orange County residents in the face of historically challenging circumstances. The pandemic has demonstrated to employers that telecommuting is not only possible, but workers were also able to thrive! Not everyone can telecommute, but where possible it provides workers with the flexibility, they need to make their lives work.

HCA Stewards and workplace leaders will be meeting to determine what actions need to be taken to stop this unnecessary change. To have accurate data on how this change will impact you, please fill out the brief survey below.

HCA - Telecommuting Survey (surveymonkey.com)

Flexibility and increased telecommuting are becoming a normal part of any workplace. The County of Orange needs to join the ranks of modern workplaces, or the County won’t be able to recruit and keep the best and brightest for HCA.

In Solidarity,

Charles Barfield
OCEA General Manager

Publication Date: March 3, 2022