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TCN PROFESSIONAL JOURNAL FALL 2021 by Lisa A . McGlynn
Remote Work in Churches : Things to Consider
AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO SURGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY , THIS TIME VIA THE DELTA VARIANT , CHURCHES ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO CONTINUE ALLOWING THEIR EMPLOYEES TO WORK REMOTELY – PERHAPS INDEFINITELY .
Last year many churches were forced to rush to a quick decision as they , along with many other businesses , had no choice but to suddenly implement remote work . With the benefit of time , it is appropriate to consider what has worked , what has not worked , and whether remote work is still a good option for you and your employees .
Some of the things to consider are whether the work at issue can be performed remotely , whether you have up-to-date remote work policies , if you are taking all hours worked into consideration , and how to effectively manage remote employee performance .
Not every position can be performed remotely . Many jobs in churches require interaction with others on a daily basis . However , even in such roles , it may be possible to have one or two days a week spent working from home . You should carefully consider each position at issue to decide what job duties can be performed remotely , either as needed or potentially indefinitely . It is also important to consider what technology will be needed to allow this work to be done remotely and if obtaining it is feasible for your church .
If you decide to allow remote work , you should communicate this decision with clear remote work policies , and require them to be signed . Maintaining rules and expectations for remote work will be necessary to manage remote workers for pay , leave , and discipline purposes . Keep in mind that while you may have quickly put together a Covid-19-related work-from-home policy in the spring of 2020 , you should review it and ensure