Remote Work & Telecommuting Policies
Dear DU staff members,
As many staff members beginworking on campus ahead of the fall term, I would like to share two policies, the pilotremoteworkpolicy 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 ofremoteworkmade necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each policy will be reevaluated and may be revised next spring based on this next year’s experiences.
Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic, among other more devastating consequences, changed the way wework. 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 “over,” and we will need to remain flexible and agile as we move through this next year. We developed theremoteworkand telecommuting policies understanding the need to balance our commitment to an engaging, active, vibrant campus with the individual needs of our community members. The pilotremoteworkpolicy will apply to all campus-based staff. The telecommuting policy is for the rare circumstance when a staff member is approved toworkexclusively off-campus and typically outside the Denver metro area. Both thedzٱ´ǰʴDZand theTelecommuting Policyare available online.
dzٱ´ǰ
Remoteworkis an option for certain eligible staff to spend a portion of their timeworking 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 thedzٱ´ǰʴDZ to determine if they wish to implementremoteworkin their unit for the 2022 fiscal year. If they elect to do so, unit leaders will develop their unit’sdzٱ´ǰPlan, which will determine which staff positions in that unit are eligible forremoteworkas it aligns to operational need.
The expectation is that DU’s 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 ofworkwill be done on campus unless noted by exceptions approved by the unit leader. That said,remoteworkmay be available for individuals and positions that meet certain eligibility requirements—namely staff who canworkindependently, 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 forremotework, the unit must develop adzٱ´ǰPlan that designates the staff member’s position as eligible forremotework. Unit leaders are encouraged to complete theirdzٱ´ǰplans no later than August 13.
- If a staff member’s position is approved forremoteworkin their unit’sdzٱ´ǰPlan, that staff member may submit a “dzٱ´ǰRequest Form” 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 thedzٱ´ǰPlan has been developed.)
- DU’s unit leaders and supervisors are committed to making equitable decisions regarding requests forremotework.
- Each unit’s needs are unique; there are no guarantees that decisions regardingremoteworkwill be identical across units or departments.
- Reasons for deniedremoteworkrequests will be shared and documented with the individual staff member and HR.
Telecommuting
At DU, telecommuting—working exclusively off campus and most often outside the Denver metro area—is 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 theTelecommuting Policy.
- Positions moved to a telecommuting arrangement (as opposed toremoteworkin the Denver metro area) because of the COVID-19 pandemic will be subject to the Telecommuting Policy.
- As withremotework, telecommuting is only permitted for certain positions able toworkindependently and for those who can meet all the essential functions of the position whileworking 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’s needs and, if so, will seek approval of the unit leader.
Telecommuting ordzٱ´ǰAgreements that Predate the COVID-19 Pandemic
Both the pilotremoteworkand the telecommuting policies recognize that some staff hadremoteworkor telecommuting arrangements prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. If that agreement is documented and existed prior to March 1, 2020—and is stillworking as determined by the supervisor—it may continue so long as the staff member executes the applicableremotework/telecommutingworkagreement.
On behalf of the entire University, thank you for your dedication, patience, consummate professionalism and flexibility as we adapted how weworked this past year in order to protect the community and continue to advance the mission of DU. The new pilotdzٱ´ǰʴDZ and revised Telecommuting Policy are designed to bring clarity and guidance to the entire DU community as we begin adapting, once again, to new circumstances. If you have any questions regarding these policies, please visit theFAQ onlineor contact your unit leader or HR Partner.
Sincerely,
Jerron Lowe
Interim Vice Chancellor of Human Resources