WASHINGTON–In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, both credit union trade associations have their employees working from home, but the size and breadth of the resulting shutdown has led to some lessons learned and resulting adjustments.
CUNA’s chief operations officer, Jill Tomalin, said the trade group stress-tested its remote-work systems last week and has also sent a survey to its staff to gauge feedback. For now, CUNA expects its employees to work from home through at least March 31.
Tomalin said some of what it has learned has been smaller and operational in nature, while the extent of the coronavirus outbreak has also led to some tweaks to its policies.
One of the smaller changes has been to make accommodations for employees accustomed to working on dual monitors. Those employees needed assistance in navigating a single-monitor interface when working from home.
The Childcare Issue
A larger issue has had to do with childcare. Tomalin noted CUNA’s remote work policy has in place specific rules that remote work is not to be used as a substitute for childcare. But given the widespread closure of many schools and childcare facilities, Tomalin said, “We have loosened some rules.”
Overall, Tomalin added, the remote work arrangement has “gone very well” for CUNA.
CUNA has also restricted all business travel for employees.
Tomalin said while the organization cannot restrict personal travel, to protect other employees it has asked those who do travel to self-quarantine for 14 days, a requirement made easier by the work-from-home policy for all employees.