With rare exceptions, employees in Richmond’s Department of Public Works no longer are permitted to work at home or have flexible work schedules.

Effective April 4, the privilege was revoked for employees to telecommute — or work by computer and telephone from another location — or to secure alternative schedules. The action was taken by Emmanuel O. Adediran, the department’s director.

In a March 22 memo, Mr. Adediran wrote to employees “that the department will maintain consistency and fairness across all divisions” by requiring employees to report “to work during normal operating hours throughout a five day workweek.”

He stated the only exceptions would be for employees whose treating physician deemed “an alternative schedule medically necessary,” but added that such requests would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The City of Richmond’s departments are allowed to offer telecommuting and alternative scheduling for workers, but directors can “revoke the privilege at any time,” according to the city’s administrative regulations.

Department spokeswoman Sharon North quoted the policy but did not offer any other explanation for the change in policy in response to a Free Press query. She did state that “there is a formal process that employees may engage in if they have concerns/questions about any management decisions.”

Asked Tuesday how this policy benefited the department, Mr. Adediran declined comment.

Mr. Adediran has been under fire for doing volunteer work for his church, First Baptist Church of South Richmond, during regular work hours. He is a volunteer associate pastor at the church where Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones is senior pastor.

City Auditor Umesh Dalal disclosed earlier this year that Mr. Adediran was managing the construction of a satellite sanctuary for the church in Chesterfield County on city time. That finding has sparked investigations by the FBI and Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring, with support from the Virginia State Police.

Mayor Jones requested the State Police probe in the wake of questions about whether he had used his city position to improperly benefit the church. The mayor has denied any wrongdoing.

Ironically, Mr. Adediran apparently was allowed to work an alternative schedule to make up the hours he put into his work for the church, sources have told the Free Press.