The "Work Revolution" Brought by COVID-19... Can the Police Also Work from Home?

National Police Agency to Pilot Some Headquarters Policy Departments in July-August
"Need to Establish Non-Face-to-Face Work Environment"
Thorough Work Performance Reporting and Security Management

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police, who were previously excluded from 'work-from-home' exceptions, have decided to introduce work-from-home in line with the times. However, they plan to conduct a two-month pilot operation targeting certain tasks before making a final decision on full implementation.

According to the police on the 29th, the National Police Agency will pilot work-from-home for policy departments only during July and August. A National Police Agency official explained, "Due to concerns over the second wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the need to establish a non-face-to-face work environment has increased," adding, "We are starting with departments that have a low proportion of face-to-face work as a pilot."

The police have been regarded as an organization where work-from-home is impossible due to the nature of their duties. This is because many tasks require meeting people or going out to the field, such as issuing certificates, responding to assemblies and protests, investigations, and dispatches. Although there are many tasks with low face-to-face necessity, these also require strict security maintenance, which has effectively forced office attendance.

However, the spread of COVID-19 has changed the police as well. The police have prepared various measures to minimize work-related contact, such as reducing face-to-face meetings and promoting video conferences. Going further, since March this year, the National Police Agency has built a system that allows access to the police agency's work network remotely using laptops held by police stations and has completed security reviews. This was to explore the possibility of work-from-home for the police.

The National Police Agency will first pilot work-from-home in the headquarters' policy departments such as Planning and Coordination, Police Administration, and Community Safety. At least two people per bureau or office will work from home, and employees who need to self-quarantine during the pilot period due to contact with confirmed cases will also be included in the work-from-home target. Those working from home must report their start and end times and daily work performance. Especially regarding the most important security management part, they must submit a security pledge and strictly comply with related rules such as measures to prevent data leakage.

Even if full implementation of work-from-home is decided after the pilot, some departments within the National Police Agency, such as the Investigation Bureau (Serious Crime Investigation Division), Cyber Safety Bureau (Cyber Terrorism Investigation Unit), and Security Bureau (Security Investigation Unit), are unlikely to be included in the work-from-home target. Nevertheless, the fact that the police, which had shown a rigid organizational culture, have taken on this new challenge itself can be seen as meaningful. A National Police Agency official said, "We are internally considering various measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reduce risks."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.