In the evolving landscape of workplace arrangements, the debate over remote work has taken an intriguing turn in San Diego.
The usual sales pitch for working from home has emphasized that employees can effectively meet their professional responsibilities outside the office while boosting morale and managing personal commitments.
However, a senior lawyer in the San Diego City Attorney’s Office is now possibly testing the limits of this flexible work model.
Newly elected City Attorney Heather Ferbert promoted one of her top deputies, Jean Jordan, to a newly created executive position with an annual salary of nearly $300,000.
The twist? Ferbert approved Jordan to work remotely while on an extended sea cruise traveling around the world.
Jordan, who previously held the position of appointed county counsel in Northern California, embarked on her four-month voyage in late January, as confirmed by the City Attorney’s Office.
She is now just over halfway through her global exploration and is slated to return home late next month.
Despite the unusual arrangement, which has drawn complaints and raised eyebrows, Jordan is receiving her full-time salary and benefits, including vacation time.
In response to inquiries from The San Diego Union-Tribune regarding this unconventional work setup, the City Attorney’s Office acknowledged the unique out-of-office arrangement.
A spokesperson for Ferbert stated that the city attorney personally approved the work-at-sea situation as a matter of professional discretion.
“As the head of an independent city department, the city attorney has the authority to allow temporary teleworking arrangements for office employees on a case-by-case basis,” stated Ibrahim Ahmed, Ferbert’s spokesperson.
“In this case, the city attorney thoroughly examined the job responsibilities of the position and determined that all required work could be performed remotely on a temporary basis with no impact on office operations,” he added.
Ferbert maintains continual communication with her entire executive team, and according to her office, there have been no delays or negative consequences arising from this arrangement.
Jordan was initially hired as one of the office’s six assistant city attorneys in 2021 after resigning from her role as county counsel in a largely agricultural area north of Sacramento.
Shortly after winning the election against state Assemblymember Brian Maienschein, Ferbert restructured San Diego’s law office, creating the new role that Jordan now occupies.
This reorganization placed Jordan in charge of three other assistants, overseeing civil litigation, as well as representing the City Council and various governmental departments.
Two other top assistants, who manage the criminal division and administration, continue to report directly to the city attorney.
Questions arose as to why Jordan was appointed to this senior position prior to her departure on an extended trip and whether the office’s restructure could have waited until her return.
Jordan, who now earns a salary of $282,651, declined to comment on her work status during her overseas travel.
“I do not have any additional comment beyond what the City Attorney’s Office already provided,” she replied via email.
Before her promotion, Jordan’s annual salary was $239,000, according to Transparent California.
Before that, her compensation in 2020, her last full year as top attorney in Sutter County, was $155,000.
One of her colleagues, Shelley Webb, a supervising deputy in the criminal division, and president of the Deputy City Attorneys Association of San Diego, was unaware of the extended travel arrangement.
“The DCAA was previously unaware of this arrangement for Executive Assistant City Attorney Jean Jordan and has no statement at this time,” Webb said in an email.
The situation has prompted concerns from legal professionals regarding the implications of such remote work arrangements, especially for senior executives.
Marlea Dell’Anno, a private practice lawyer and former San Diego assistant city attorney, expressed skepticism about the appropriateness of Jordan’s situation.
“Allowing someone to work off-site while engaged in a world cruise for months on end is questionable, especially a senior executive,” Dell’Anno stated.
“It’s like being an absentee parent. You are the No. 2 to the city attorney. How critical a role can you have if you’re not accessible to the people you are leading?” she questioned.
Dell’Anno highlighted that this situation does not appear to reflect good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Such extended voyages are often planned well in advance, raising questions about the decision-making regarding Jordan’s work arrangement.
Many cruise lines offer world cruises that allow travelers to visit an extensive array of destinations, appealing to retirees and digital nomads alike.
A consultancy, MBO Partners, reports that the number of digital nomads has surged from 7.3 million in 2019 to over 18 million expected by 2024.
This phenomenon reflects a growing norm of remote work, providing more individuals the opportunity to travel while remaining professionally engaged.
The city of San Diego has a comprehensive policy detailing how employees can apply to work remotely, which requires approval from department heads and human resources.
Teleworkers must sign an agreement outlining their terms of service and working conditions, including a mandate to respond to communications within three hours during work hours.
The City Attorney’s Office traditionally employs around 425 people, with a projected total expenditure of $85 million this year.
As one of San Diego’s largest law firms, the office houses over 175 attorneys.
The Mayor’s Office noted that many employees follow hybrid work schedules, allowing them to fulfill obligations that take them out of the office.
In total, nearly 2,000 of the city’s 13,300 employees have been approved for remote work through formal agreements.
The Development Services department leads with the highest number of approved remote workers, totaling 393, followed by Public Utilities and Engineering & Capital Projects.
This incident may raise more questions about the balance between flexible work arrangements and the obligations of public employees to their roles and the communities they serve.
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