* Secretary of State Jesse White has not only reopened his driver services offices, he’s brought back all of his other employees. The rest of the state’s constitutional officers have not yet gone nearly that far. Here’s Doug Finke…
“State agencies are currently building site-specific plans based on their operational need,” said [Pritzker] administration spokeswoman Marjani Williams in a statement. “Agencies will be working with (the Department of Central Management Services) as their thought partners to focus on strategies around social distancing, safety and occupancy guidelines for work spaces to ensure that employees and constituents return to a safe working environment.”
In areas where employees interact with the public, screening or other barriers will be installed and more aggressive disinfectant procedures will be used. In other locations, social distancing will be maintained and workplace meetings will continue to be held using remote meeting technology.
Like other offices, Comptroller Susana Mendoza has had some people continuing to work from state offices and other employees working from home.
Spokesman Abdon Pallasch said in Springfield “there’s been a contingent there the whole time to make sure the checks go out. That really hasn’t changed yet. We haven’t increased the number of folks coming back yet.”
Go read the rest.
- Maybe this might help... - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 10:45 am:
They are not enforcing the wearing of mask on Stevenson drive facility.
- Mask - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 10:50 am:
Although there are many signs stating mask are required they are not enforcing it on Dirsksen driver license facility.
Stay safe!
- Yiddishcowboy - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 10:52 am:
I really don’t understand the thinking at SOS. The other constitutional officers are undoubtedly still concerned about the pandemic and are moving forward cautiously as a result.
I wonder to what extent it was Benigno’s bright idea to bring back all employees?
- RNUG - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 10:55 am:
Several friends still work at different state offices. Once the initial glitches got worked out, they can work fine from home; no problem handling their caseloads as long as the internet stays up. For the back office people (the ones that don’t have to interact face to face with the public), there is no real need to come back to the physical office.
- The Real Captain - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:02 am:
State Farm Corporate Offices in Bloomington have told there employees they can start coming back on a need to basis in October but they will not be doing a full re-open until at earliest the first of the year. I agree that some state employees need to come because of things that need to be done in office and through direct contact with people. This needs to be done slowly and safely for the employees and the public.
- A Jack - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:05 am:
I am surprised that SEIU isn’t making a bigger issue out of this since its employee safety. Most state agencies are mainly AFSCME, but SOS is SEIU.
- MakePoliticsCoolAgain - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:11 am:
-but SOS is SEIU.-
No, most SOS employees are actually AFT/IFT members.
- Ferris Bueller - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:12 am:
I’ve gone from worrying about Covid at the JRTC to Legionella since it’s been shut down for almost 3 months now (and based on when they are telling us we will be returning it’ll be months more). At my agency the work from home has gone extremely well (by all metrics, productivity is up, etc.)
- Fixer - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:14 am:
Ferris, that’s similar to what my agency is reporting as well. It would be nice if going forward the state would consider more flexibility when it comes to remote work in light of this.
- Ferris Bueller - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:17 am:
My agency has never had a work-from-home policy before this. They’re putting together one now though. I fully expect that many people will be able to stay work-from-home for at least part of their schedule.
- thoughts matter - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:42 am:
My sons private sector employer is looking into full time work from home permanently where possible. He was already working from home 3 days a week for the last several years. He is thrilled.
State workers will be one of the last allowed to work from home permanently even one day a week because the taxpayers will flat out state that we can’t be trusted to work from home.
- Happy customer - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:50 am:
I went Tuesday to the SOS facility near me to renew my driver’s license and get it real ID. I stood in line for 3 hours….because they were only allowing 25 people into the facility at the time. I got to tell you they handled it very professionally. The had employes with tablets asking people in line what they were in for and they very firy the documentation and provided a ticket that once you were inside you waited for your number to be called….every time a person left a window and SOS employee came by with wiping towels cleaning every surface….everyone wearing face masks…I was very impressed.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:06 pm:
Glad they are opening with a full staff, SOS driver facilities are vital and essential resources. Huge pent up demand for new divers and vehicle transfers done March -June. The Elgin facility was swamped.
- striketoo - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:20 pm:
Who in the world would want to do a one on one driver’s test with an SOS employee doing dozens of them? BTW, drivers over 80 are required to have an annual driver’s test. It could be a death sentence for them.
- Retired Educator - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:21 pm:
I waited till this morning to go to our small town SOS office. I needed two vehicle stickers. I was in and out in about 10 minutes. Everyone was wearing masks. The ladies said the y were happy to be back, and several of us expressed our appreciation. Good experience in trying times.
- Merica - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:22 pm:
No where in the article is there a discussion about childcare. Many daycares aren’t open. Daycares only take kids ages 6mo - 5. There aren’t any summer camps open. What the heck are people supposed to do?
- Ferris Bueller - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:30 pm:
@thoughts matter
the Federal Government allows employees to work from home and taxpayers aren’t revolting. If the work gets sone no one will care (or even know). Many Federal employees can work from home at least 3 days a week after their probationary period is over.
- Sonny - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:33 pm:
Many private sector folks I know are going back TBD and have been told Labor Day at the earliest and possibly even 2021. Buildings with windows that don’t open, public transit: No bueno.
- weeds - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:34 pm:
My state license renewal was due during lockdown, and all the paper work and inspections were done in early March.
Now, just waiting for reinspection from the Fire Marshall over a single gfi and exit light battery, but they seem to be worried about the
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:35 pm:
“No where in the article is there a discussion about childcare. Many daycares aren’t open. What the heck are people supposed to do?”
FFCRA provides expanded FLMA…
Up to an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay where an employee, who has been employed for at least 30 calendar days, is unable to work due to a bona fide need for leave to care for a child whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave
- thoughts matter - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:42 pm:
Ferris - you know as well as I do that Illinois citizens can be pretty blunt about their contempt for state employees. They also think state workers shouldn’t get anything they don’t get.
Those people don’t realize that the federal government employees can work from home or they would be commenting about that.
People with a good work ethic were productive working from home. People without one weren’t. No different than when the same people were in the office. In fact, it was easier to concentrate on some of my work at home because there were fewer distractions.
- Mr. K. - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 1:15 pm:
There should be no rush to come back — especially for folks on public transportation.
Really, nothing has changed. We’re distant, we wear masks — but the disease is as deadly and as contagious as it was in March.
- And still... - Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 1:22 pm:
the other constitutional office workers are doing more than SOS personnel.