Flexible Work Arrangements

The University offers Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) designed to expand the use of flexibility of working locations and hours worked in circumstances in which the schedule can better meet the needs of the University and staff. The primary aspects of the program are as follows:

Flexible work for non-student-facing positions

The University will support flexible work for non-student-facing positions with the following criteria:

• The flexible work arrangement must be approved by the employee’s supervisor, senior leader, and the Office of Human Resources.
• The supervisor and employee requesting the arrangement must ensure that the FWA will not impact the employee’s day-to-day job duties or expectations.
• If the flexible work arrangement involves remote work, it must not exceed more than two days away from the campus or office location in any week.
• The employee seeking a flexible work arrangement must have a current Performance Partnership on file with the Office of Human Resources (HR), with a rating, at minimum, of “On-Track” or “Meets Expectations.”
• The employee’s supervisor/leader will monitor work and performance through establishing clear goals, regular communications (weekly 1:1 meetings) and by ensuring the employee’s full participation in all group/team meetings and events.

Hiring for remote work

The University will begin hiring remote staff for certain functions, including information technology, advancement and marketing. The remote hiring must have prior approval from the dean or senior vice president at the time the position is submitted for approval.

The FWA should be primarily used to increase operational efficiency and must be a mutually beneficial arrangement for the University, department and eligible staff member. The availability of FWAs varies by each school, college, unit and position based on business and operational needs. The dean or senior vice president must be directly involved in and approve any plan for a flexible work arrangement.

FWAs are only appropriate for benefits-eligible staff employees. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any employee who is represented for collective bargaining purposes by a labor union shall only be eligible for a flexible work arrangement to the extent flexible work arrangements have been agreed to by the applicable union and employer.

Supervisors must work with employees to develop effective FWA plans that support the functions of the department, school/college and University; and HR will partner with departments to coach and guide supervisors, as well as eligible staff, through the process to determine approval and to ensure each arrangement satisfies the general University requirements that apply as described in the Flexible Work Policy.

In certain instances, Family Medical Leave, Paid Family Leave or Reasonable Accommodations are more appropriate options than flexible work arrangements. For more information visit FMLA and Other University Leaves or Faculty and Staff Accommodations.

Complete FWA Form

On this page:

• Eligibility
• Types of Flexible Work Arrangements
• Considerations for Success
• Effect on Paid Time Off
• Policies Related to Flexible Work

Eligibility

Benefits-eligible staff employees are generally eligible to explore a flexible work arrangement. The availability of flexible work arrangements varies widely by school/college, unit and position based on business and operational needs and approvals are made at the discretion of a staff member’s supervisor and dean or senior vice president. However, there are certain positions that cannot be adapted to an FWA, such as when the position involves frequent on-campus interactions or when the role does not have flexibility to accommodate shift changes. Any employee who is represented for collective bargaining purposes by a labor union shall only be eligible for a flexible work arrangement to the extent flexible work arrangements have been agreed to by the applicable union and employer. Consult the Flexible Work Policy and the Benefits Eligibility Policy, or ask your senior HR business partner or labor relations specialist if you have questions about eligibility for an FWA.
*Newly hired individuals are eligible to apply for an FWA after 90 days of employment provided there is satisfactory performance.

Types of Flexible Work Arrangements

The following flexible work arrangements will be considered:

• Hybrid Workweek: Work from a remote location, no more than two days per week; the same number of scheduled work hours are retained.
• Flextime/Staggered Shifts: Work start and end times differ from the standard; the same number of scheduled work hours per week are retained. (i.e., shifting your workday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
• Fully Remote Work: Work arrangement in which a staff member works all hours from a location not owned by the University. Tax and regulatory concerns need to be addressed if the remote location is outside of New York State.
• Compressed Work Schedule: Alternative schedule that compresses a normal workweek into fewer than five days, but not fewer than three days; the same number of scheduled work hours per week are retained. (i.e., moving from working five eight-hour days to four 10-hour days.)

Considerations for Success

The employee and the supervisor will work with the senior HR business partner to consider the following:

• Are the position and the job responsibilities a good fit for Flexible Work Arrangements?
• What is the impact of the FWA on those who depend upon the eligible staff member’s services?
• What is the impact of the FWA proposal on the needs of the department and University?
• Does the eligible staff member’s work style fit well with an FWA?
• Does the eligible staff member meet or exceed performance standards?
• Does the FWA impact the eligible staff member’s current benefits and pay?
• Are there core work hours for the department that are not flexible and must be worked by all staff members to meet the operational needs of the department?
• What are the cost considerations such as equipment and services?
• Are there confidentiality and security considerations that need to be addressed?

Effect on Paid Time Off

The accrual and use of paid time off benefits may be affected by a flexible work arrangement, as follows:

• Flextime/Staggered Shift: The appropriate number of work hours should be deducted for holiday, floating holiday, sick, and vacation time regardless of whether the start/end times or lunchtime is flexed.
• Remote Work: Paid time off benefits for a remote work/telecommuting day are to be handled as they would be for a day working in the office. The appropriate number of work hours should be deducted for holiday, sick, and vacation time whether the employee is telecommuting or working in the office that day.
• Compressed Work Schedule: Vacation time, floating holiday time, personal business time and sick time should be viewed in terms of “hours available” for the purposes of deducting from the bank of a compressed work schedule employee. If a holiday falls on an employee’s regularly scheduled workday, the employee shall receive pay for his/her regularly scheduled work hours. If a holiday falls on an employee’s day off, holiday pay is not granted. This rule applies to all employees, regardless of flexible schedule status, and is unchanged by flexible work arrangements.
  

Policies Related to Flexible Work

Depending on the employee’s circumstances, there may be policies and procedures that should be reviewed with respect to a flexible work arrangement. Prior to speaking with your senior HR business partner about a potential flexible work arrangement, please review the Flexible Work Policy in its entirety, including the related policies listed at the end of the policy.

Eligible staff members who would like to request a flexible work arrangement should initiate the conversation with their immediate supervisor, who will collaborate with senior leadership and their senior HR business partner.

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