News Summary
A recent report reveals inconsistencies in the compliance of Jacksonville city employees with the work-from-home policy, prompting concerns over enforcement. Many employees continue to work remotely despite policies limiting telework. The investigation uncovered compliance issues in the Finance Department and discrepancies between departmental policies and city directives. The mayor’s office is working on creating a new uniform policy to address these shortcomings and ensure fair adherence among all employees.
Jacksonville Report Shows Inconsistent Compliance with Work-from-Home Policy
A new report from the Inspector General indicates that a significant number of city employees in Jacksonville continue to work from home, despite the conclusion of the pandemic-related telework trend. The investigation highlighted inconsistencies in adherence to the city-wide work-from-home policy, raising concerns about its enforcement across different departments.
The report emphasizes the need for the mayor’s office to establish a new, uniform work-from-home policy, a task that is currently underway. The existing policy, implemented by the Deegan Administration in July 2024, necessitates multi-level approval for work-from-home requests, categorizes telework as short-term, and limits most requests to a maximum of two weeks. However, the report points to various departments failing to follow these guidelines.
Among the departments scrutinized, the Finance Department demonstrated significant compliance issues, reporting five employees working remotely, yet only providing one signed agreement for remote work. Additionally, the report revealed “numerous” other work-from-home requests from Finance employees that were not documented or reported by the department.
Chief Financial Officer Anna Brosche has been working from home since November 2024, conducting telework from locations including Virginia and South Carolina. She claims that her ability to telecommute was approved by the mayor, citing family-related issues. However, the mayor’s Chief of Staff informed investigators that Brosche was considered “exempt from the work-from-home policy.”
The mayor’s office stated that Brosche had been granted leave under the Family Medical Leave Act from November to December due to a family member’s terminal illness. Despite this, it has been noted that she has maintained a full-time remote work schedule since the beginning of the year. Councilmember Ron Salem, who is also a member of the Finance Committee, has expressed concerns regarding the extensive permissions granted to Brosche and questioned her absence from critical council budget hearings, underscoring the importance of having high-ranking officials present during crucial city processes.
The report’s findings also uncovered discrepancies between department-specific policies and established city directives, indicating a lack of clarity and consistency regarding telework conditions. The mayor’s office is in the “research and discussion phase” of drafting a new citywide work-from-home policy aimed at clarifying these conditions, particularly for instances of short-term telework. The report stipulates that telework should only be allowed under certain circumstances, such as temporary medical issues affecting mobility, and that it should not exceed the two-week limit unless explicitly extended under an intermittent basis.
The Inspector General’s investigation was further complicated by a lack of cooperation from some departments, including Public Works, which reportedly had its own policies and failed to respond to information requests. This lack of compliance among various departments has prompted a reevaluation of the work-from-home policy intended to ensure adherence and fairness across all city employees.
In light of these findings, the mayor’s office is actively working to address the shortcomings within the current policy framework and reinforce the importance of compliance among city employees to foster an efficient and transparent work environment. While the Office has defended the productivity of CFO Brosche while teleworking, the discrepancies highlighted in the report remain a pressing issue that the city must resolve to restore confidence in its work-from-home program.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Trump Pushes for Federal Workers to Return While Enjoying Golf
Trump Orders Federal Workers Back to Office Amid Leisure Time
Additional Resources
- Action News Jax: Dozens of Jacksonville City Employees Not Complying with Work from Home Policy
- Commercial Café: Sunshine State of Work – Florida’s Top Cities
- Action News Jax: Jacksonville’s Work-from-Home Policy Not Being Followed
- Wikipedia: Telecommuting
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Remote Work
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
