MANSFIELD — Full-time Richland County employees need permission to work at other jobs.
That has been the policy for years, according to Human Resources Director Kelly Christiansen, though it just recently cropped up during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking during a county commissioners’ meeting with department heads Thursday, the long-time HR director said the county learned it had a full-time employee who was also working part-time as an emergency medical technician.
“That employment (during COVID-19) put them at significant risk,” Christiansen said, adding the employee works in a congregate setting for the county, making spread of the virus more possible. “We revoked their ability to engage in secondary employment.
“This outside employment policy has existed here since before I started. In my time here, it’s not come up (before),” she said.
Christiansen said full-time county employees must request approval before accepting secondary employment. Those already working second jobs should apply for permission retroactively. The policy does not apply to part-time county employees, she said.
Christiansen said employees who take secondary jobs before receiving approval, or do so after being denied approval, are subject to disciplinary action under the policy.
One department head said she has an employee who works as a volunteer EMT, but does get monetary compensation.
“If it’s something that could interfere with their Richland County employment, I think that’s a problem,” Christiansen said. “Some of this will not be simple ‘yes or no’ answers.'”
Commissioners Marilyn John and Tony Vero both indicated discussions involving employees, their department heads and human relations need to occur before any action is taken.
“You have three commissioners here who don’t want to limit someone’s ability to improve themselves,” Vero said. “We need to look at this in a common sense way.”
Also during the meeting, Sharlene Neumann, executive director of Richland County Job & Family Services, reported her agency has served 2,624 people in the last two months in its main Ohio Means Jobs office at 171 Park Ave. East during the pandemic.
“About three-fourths of that number are related to unemployment claims, either initial applications or renewals,” Neumann said. “We have done that with social distancing and we have no (COVID-19) incidents to report. The staff has been compliant wearing masks.”
Neumann said about half of her staff has successfully been working remotely and may continue to do so through the end of June.
Neumann said the agency is gearing up for its annual book-bag program and clothing vouchers as local children prepare for a return to school in a few months.
“Everyone is saying ‘please do it’ and we will start up distribution in August,” she said.
The commissioners praised the work done by the departments during the pandemic.
“I have had many residents ask me when we are going to open up the county building,” Vero said. “I say, ‘We never closed.’ You guys have exercised caution while remaining open to provide needed services.”
