September 26, 2022
Good afternoon,
We explained in May and reminded you last week that the last step to Re-entry is for Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) workers to fill out and supervisors to approve the Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS) Telework Authorization Form.
DAFS has created an overarching Executive Branch Baseline Telework Policy (PDF), offering flexibility on the operational details of telework across and within Departments. The DHHS Telework Policy fits within this umbrella.
To ensure both consistent reporting and adherence to the underlying statewide policy, DAFS has created a statewide Telework Authorization system. While the DHHS Telework Approval Form is the first step to telework, you must also complete the DAFS Telework Authorization Form to continue to telework. Approval under the more specific DHHS Telework Approval Form should result in approval on the DAFS Telework Authorization Form, so long as the information is consistent.
That said, the DAFS Telework Authorization Form, by definition, is different and broader than the DHHS Telework Approval Form. This is necessary to accommodate different Departments’ policies as well as Departments that do not have their own telework approval process. We ask you all to spend some time in reviewing the information below and on DAFS website as you fill out the DAFS Telework Authorization Form.
We request that eligible workers fill out and supervisors review and approve, as appropriate, the DAFS Telework Authorization Form by Friday, October 7.
Our guidance and tips, below, will also be posted on the Office Re-entry Planning for DHHS Staff page.
As a reminder, telework is an option subject to State of Maine, DHHS, Office, and supervisor approval, with the default being traditional in-office work. We are excited to offer this new mode of work in addition to welcoming employees back to safe place-based offices to advance our mission of promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity across this great state.
Thanks, Jeanne
Commissioner, Maine Department of Health and Human Services