Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the extension of the FlexWork@RU Pilot Program. Under this extension, flexible work arrangements will not be automatically renewed. Staff employees who wish to commence or continue a flexible work arrangement must submit a request according to the process outlined below. While all existing flexible work arrangements expire on August 31, 2024, we will extend the request deadline through October 31, 2024, to allow for sufficient review, resubmission, and approval time.
Staff Employees Currently in Flexible Work Arrangements
By October 31, 2024, all staff employees with flexible work arrangements must:
- revisit the Department Needs Assessment and Team Agreement with their Dean, Director, or Department Head;
- submit a new application in the FlexWork@RU Application System; and
- review and update their current home and remote work addresses as needed.
Please do not submit a new flexible work arrangement until you have received further instructions from your HR representative or your Dean, Director, or Department Head regarding the designated approvers for your unit.
Employees not in Flexible Work Arrangements
Not all Staff positions at the university are suitable for flexible work arrangements. There are many different reasons why flexible work arrangements may not be offered in your unit. If you do not have an approved flexible work arrangement in the FlexWork@RU Application System by October 31, 2024, you are expected to be on campus, at your assigned university work location for all hours of your work schedule.
Dean, Director, and Department Head Responsibilities
Deans, Directors, and Department Heads are encouraged to evaluate their operations to determine what flexible work arrangements are appropriate for their teams. The decision tree may assist in this process. It is crucial that flexible work arrangements are offered fairly, consistently, and equitably and in accordance with relevant policies and collective negotiations agreements. Please ensure that all flexible work arrangements for staff employees currently engaged in a flexible work arrangement, including those arrangements previously approved prior to the implementation of the new flexible work arrangement policy, are submitted through the application system by the October 31st deadline.
Flexible Work Arrangement Approval Authority
As a reminder, Deans, Directors, and Department Heads are responsible for reviewing requests for all flexible work arrangements. Additional Cabinet Officer review and approval is required for hybrid work arrangements (3-4 days remote) and UHR review and approval is required for fully remote work arrangements. Fully remote work is only approved under extraordinary circumstances.
Visit the FlexWork@RU Pilot Program websiteto view frequently asked questions and find additional resources. A System User Guide is available to help employees and department heads navigate through the application process.
Should you have any questions, please submit a ticket through the HR and Payroll Support Portal.
Sincerely,
Vivian Fernández
Senior Vice President Human Resources