Remote Work & Telecommuting Policies
Dear 快活app staff members,
As many staff members begin听working on campus ahead of the fall term, I would like to share two policies, the pilot听remote听work听policy and the telecommuting policy. The University built these policies, which pertain to staff, with considerable care and consultation based on what we learned from the extended period of听remote听work听made necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each policy will be reevaluated and may be revised next spring based on this next year鈥檚 experiences.
Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic, among other more devastating consequences, changed the way we听work. The University recognizes that while many of us are enjoying a gradual return to a version of life more similar to what we knew before COVID-19, the pandemic is not 鈥渙ver,鈥 and we will need to remain flexible and agile as we move through this next year. We developed the听remote听work听and telecommuting policies understanding the need to balance our commitment to an engaging, active, vibrant campus with the individual needs of our community members. The pilot听remote听work听policy will apply to all campus-based staff. The telecommuting policy is for the rare circumstance when a staff member is approved to听work听exclusively off-campus and typically outside the Denver metro area. Both the听搁别尘辞迟别听奥辞谤办听笔辞濒颈肠测听and the听Telecommuting Policy听are available online.
搁别尘辞迟别听奥辞谤办
Remote听work听is an option for certain eligible staff to spend a portion of their time听working away from campus after making an agreement with their unit leader. Each college/school/unit, as defined by the applicable vice chancellor, dean or vice provost, will use the听搁别尘辞迟别听奥辞谤办听笔辞濒颈肠测 to determine if they wish to implement听remote听work听in their unit for the 2022 fiscal year. If they elect to do so, unit leaders will develop their unit鈥檚听搁别尘辞迟别听奥辞谤办听Plan, which will determine which staff positions in that unit are eligible for听remote听work听as it aligns to operational need.
The expectation is that 快活app鈥檚 staff will once again deliver exceptional in-person service to our students and the community by the start of the fall 2021 term. Therefore, it is expected that the majority of听work听will be done on campus unless noted by exceptions approved by the unit leader. That said,听remote听work听may be available for individuals and positions that meet certain eligibility requirements鈥攏amely staff who can听work听independently, are in good standing without documented performance concerns, meet expectations in their current role and who come to a specific agreement with their unit supervisor.
Please note:
- Before a staff member may apply for听remote听work, the unit must develop a听搁别尘辞迟别听奥辞谤办听Plan that designates the staff member鈥檚 position as eligible for听remote听work. Unit leaders are encouraged to complete their听搁别尘辞迟别听奥辞谤办听plans no later than August 13.
- If a staff member鈥檚 position is approved for听remote听work听in their unit鈥檚听搁别尘辞迟别听奥辞谤办听Plan, that staff member may submit a 鈥湼楸鸪敬浅俦鹛麓前焯齊equest Form鈥 to their unit leader. This form will be available on the HRIC website beginning the week of August 2. (The requests will not be reviewed until the听搁别尘辞迟别听奥辞谤办听Plan has been developed.)
- 快活app鈥檚 unit leaders and supervisors are committed to making equitable decisions regarding requests for听remote听work.
- Each unit鈥檚 needs are unique; there are no guarantees that decisions regarding听remote听work听will be identical across units or departments.
- Reasons for denied听remote听work听requests will be shared and documented with the individual staff member and HR.
Telecommuting
At 快活app, telecommuting鈥攚orking exclusively off campus and most often outside the Denver metro area鈥攊s rare and, by design, only an option in specific circumstances.
Details to note:
- Telecommuting must be pre-approved and only permitted in circumstances detailed in the听Telecommuting Policy.
- Positions moved to a telecommuting arrangement (as opposed to听remote听work听in the Denver metro area) because of the COVID-19 pandemic will be subject to the Telecommuting Policy.
- As with听remote听work, telecommuting is only permitted for certain positions able to听work听independently and for those who can meet all the essential functions of the position while听working wholly off campus.
- Existing staff who wish to telecommute must submit a Request to Telecommute to their supervisor. (The form will be available on the HR website the week of August 2.) The supervisor will evaluate if the position is eligible based on the Telecommuting Policy and if telecommuting meets their unit鈥檚 needs and, if so, will seek approval of the unit leader.
Telecommuting or听搁别尘辞迟别听奥辞谤办听Agreements that Predate the COVID-19 Pandemic
Both the pilot听remote听work听and the telecommuting policies recognize that some staff had听remote听work听or telecommuting arrangements prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. If that agreement is documented and existed prior to March 1, 2020鈥攁nd is still听working as determined by the supervisor鈥攊t may continue so long as the staff member executes the applicable听remote听work/telecommuting听work听agreement.
On behalf of the entire University, thank you for your dedication, patience, consummate professionalism and flexibility as we adapted how we听worked this past year in order to protect the community and continue to advance the mission of 快活app. The new pilot听搁别尘辞迟别听奥辞谤办听笔辞濒颈肠测 and revised Telecommuting Policy are designed to bring clarity and guidance to the entire 快活app community as we begin adapting, once again, to new circumstances. If you have any questions regarding these policies, please visit the听FAQ online听or contact your unit leader or HR Partner.
Sincerely,
Jerron Lowe
Interim Vice Chancellor of Human Resources