Any university employees can be eligible for telecommuting. However:

• • Employees in a warning notice of substandard performance period are not eligible for telecommuting.
  • In addition, employees with recent disciplinary actions should generally be prohibited from telecommuting.
  • Keep in mind not all positions are suitable for telecommuting. Whether the position or person is suitable for telecommuting work is based on the nature of the job duties, employee readiness for remote work and/or manager and team readiness for remote work.
  • A supervisor may require a test period of up to six months to evaluate the success of the telecommuting arrangement.

• Telecommuters are expected to be working and focused on the performance of their job duties during all work hours.
• You may have household members or others who depend on you for care. If you have these obligations, you must have adequate care arrangements that do not interfere with your job responsibilities.
• Telecommuting is not a substitute for child care, elder care, dependent care or other personal responsibilities. Telecommuting is not a substitute for taking appropriate time off for sick days or annual leave.

• For formal telecommuting arrangements, the primary workplace is your university office location; the alternate workplace is your telecommuting work address. You can work at the primary workplace or the approved alternate workplace, but not from another unapproved site.
• For example: You telecommute every Monday, and your family is vacationing at the beach. You decide to work from the beach location Monday and use annual leave Tuesday through Friday.
  • This scenario would not be permitted. The beach is not an approved alternate workplace, and telecommuting is not a substitute for using appropriate time off.
• Failure to comply with this provision may result in termination of the agreement and other disciplinary action.

• Working hours cannot coincide or overlap with any other type of employment as outlined in the Outside Employment policy HR 1.30 [pdf]. 
• Full-time university employees are not permitted to engage in outside employment, defined as secondary jobs in which an individual engages in external activities, either paid or unpaid, that may interfere with his/her primary obligation and commitment to the university or a situation in which an individual has financial, professional or personal considerations that may directly or indirectly affect, or have the appearance of affecting, an individual's professional judgment in exercising university duty or responsibility.

In addition to telecommuting, flexible work schedules are also an option. Employees can request two types of schedules:

1. A compressed work week schedule allows you to work four working days instead of five, but you must still work at least 37.5 or 40 hours per week, as outlined in in your position description.
2. A variable work week allows you to work five working days, but with work hours other than 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Employees must apply for flexible work arrangements using the flexible work arrangement form [pdf].

Request for telecommuting has moved to an online request form. All employees in the division can see the remote work tile under Employee Self Service in PeopleSoft.

 

Eligible FTE employees should complete the self-paced training video (below) prior to submitting a request through PeopleSoft.

 Automated Telecommuting Agreement Training-20230627_110921-Meeting Recording.mp4

Employees only need to watch the first part of the recording (until the 23:01 minute mark) and the last 2 slides (39:51-41:53).  The second part of the video is for managers and supervisors on how to approve and monitor telecommuting requests (23:02-34:20).  

• Employee Job Aid [pdf]
• Manager Job Aid [pdf]

Setting Expectations

Use the following forms with your supervisor and direct reports to establish clear telecommuting expectations.

• Mutual Expectations Worksheet: Non-Supervisory [pdf]
• Mutual Expectations Worksheet: Supervisory [pdf]

• What can I do if my supervisor does not think I meet readiness? This is the perfect time to have a conversation with your supervisor about steps they can take to meet readiness and set a time to revisit the agreement in one to three months. 
• What if my request is denied for reasons other than readiness? Telecommuting is a management tool allowing for flexibility in work options, however it is not suitable for all employees and/or positions. If not given, ask why the role is not suitable for telecommuting and explore other flexible work arrangements if applicable.
• Can my supervisor call me to my primary work location without notice? Regardless of my telecommuting arrangement, as per policy, you can be required to report to the office location at any time with or without advance notice. Although it is our hope this happens infrequently, there may be emergency reasons for being called in without notice, and flexibility is going to be extremely important. 
• Is the university required to pay for operating cost for my home office? The university is not responsible for operating costs, home maintenance, or any other incidental costs including  electricity, cellphone or internet service (wifi or hotspot) associated with the alternate workplace.
• Am I required to telecommute if the university is closed due to hazardous weather or other reasons?  Yes. If you have entered into a telecommuting agreement and the university is closed due to hazardous weather or other reason, you will be required to work by telecommuting even if you were scheduled to work from the primary workplace during the time the office is closed.