Telecommuting Policy
September 3, 2024
The Universities of Wisconsin updated its telecommuting policy to provide a clear framework for telecommuting agreements between employees and their supervisors. To comply with the new policy, employees who work remotely are required to complete a new Telecommuting Agreement Form by September 30, 2024.
The telecommuting policy aims to enhance flexibility in work arrangements while ensuring operational efficiency. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has also updated its interim telecommuting guidelines and will work to make it a permanent policy in the 2024-2025 academic year. Below, please find key policy changes and resources to support implementation of the revised policy.
Telecommuting Policies:
Applicability:
- All employees who work remotely and employees who supervise remote employees are subject to the telecommuting policies.
Key Updates:
- New Definitions: New definitions for “workplace flexibility,” “hybrid-remote work,” “international remote work,” “out-of-state remote work,” “remote work agreement,” and “headquarters location” are included in section 5, Definitions.
- Updated Remote Work Considerations: There are new and updated considerations for authorizing remote work in section 6.A, Criteria and Conditions for Remote Work.
- Updated Responsibilities: There are new and updated roles and responsibilities for employees and supervisors in section 6.D., the Roles and Responsibilities.
- Out-of-State Remote Work:
All out-of-state remote work agreements, including locations outside of the United States, require approval by the UWM Department of Human Resources (Section 6.E. IX).
New considerations for out-of-state remote work agreements, including international remote work, are included in Section 6.F, Special Considerations for Out-of-state Remote Work Agreements.
Manager’s Guidelines and FAQs:
Telecommuting Agreement Form:
Applicability:
- Employees, with the exception of faculty and instructional academic staff, who work remotely on a regularly scheduled or full-time basis are required to complete a telecommuting agreement form.
- Faculty and Instructional Academic Staff who are assigned a remote work site, work out-of-state, work internationally, or who work remotely and do not have a workspace or office at UWM are required to complete a telecommuting agreement form. More information about faculty and instructional academic staff requirements can be found in the linked Manager’s Guide to Telecommuting and FAQs Appendix A.
Timeframe/Renewal:
- Remote work arrangements may not be longer than one year. The Telecommuting Agreement Form must be completed each fiscal year.
Deadline:
- Employees currently telecommuting must complete a telecommuting agreement form by September 30, 2024. All Telecommuting Agreement Forms expire June 30th of each year.
Resources:
- Employee Tip Sheet for Completing the Telecommuting Agreement eForm
- Manager Tip Sheet for Completing the Telecommuting Agreement eForm
For questions, please review the Manager’s Guide to Telecommuting Appendix B – FAQ. You may also contact your supervisor or assigned HR Business Partner.