CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County is ending scheduled or routine telework on July 1, requiring all employees to report to their office or work spaces five days a week. 

What You Need To Know

 Mecklenburg County will end its telework police on July 1 to promote problem-solving, creativity and partnership

 Some employees, including Tom MacFarlan, are in disagreement with the change due to public health and productivity concerns

 Mecklenburg County plans to release a revised policy later this spring

County Manager Dena Diorio sent two emails to employees saying the change will promote problem-solving, creativity and partnership. 

Several information technology employees have expressed their disagreement with the policy change publicly before Mecklenburg County Commissioners. 

Tom MacFarlan, who has worked in the department for 10 years, is one of them. 

He said his team mostly collaborates virtually. Currently, he works two days a week from home, which is a policy he said was in place before the pandemic. 

“I’m able to be far more productive when I work from home. I don’t have people doing drive-by conversations. I’m not working in a noisy space, and I’m able to focus on getting things done,” MacFarlan said.

Also, his commute to the office is usually 30 minutes each way. 

“Traffic is getting worse, but for now, it’s not terrible,” MacFarlan said. 

However, he said commuting times are a concern for other team members who live farther away. 

For MacFarlan, the primary concern is more people in the office will mean more illnesses, such as COVID-19. 

“I caught [COVID-19] as a result of an outbreak from a mandatory in-person meeting department wide,” MacFarlan said. 

Diorio stated in an email sent to employees, public health and safety concerns may require the county to make alternate arrangements.

“Keeping employees safe has and will always be a top priority,” Diorio said. 

MacFarlan said he’s not convinced. 

“They’ve shown us what they mean by that by forcing us into the office while COVID was still raging before,” MacFarlan said. 

In an email, Diorio said there will be some flexibility to work from home in some cases, including overtime, on call-employees, inclement weather, flextime and public health and safety. 

MacFarlan said in his perspective, it would be best for the policy not to go through.

“Give the discretion back to the departments who know best how their employees work and who needs to be at work and who doesn’t,” MacFarlan said. 

MacFarlan and other employees plan to attend the April 2 Board of County Commissioner’s meeting to continue voicing their disagreement to the change. 

MacFarlan said he plans to remain with the county despite the change in policy.

“I like to be the steward of my own dollars. I like to have an impact on the community where I live,” MacFarlan said. 

Diorio said the new finalized policy will be released this spring. 

“Our workforce of more than 6,000 employees is competent, committed, and diverse. We perform a wide range of jobs across many locations while adhering to various industry standards, requirements, and schedules. The Executive Team is developing a revised policy that considers our organization’s goals, size, and diversity,” Diorio wrote in an email.

Spectrum News 1 requested an interview with a Mecklenburg County representative on the policy change but was told no one was available.

Spectrum News 1 checked with other government agencies in the state about their telework policy.

Wake County allows employees to work hybrid or remote schedules where appropriate, and the City of Raleigh continues to allow hybrid work for certain positions.

Greensboro offers a flexible work arrangement, and the City of Asheville allows employees to work remotely as needed.