Telecommuting and Flexible Working Hours

Several issues have emerged in recent weeks regarding telecommuting and flexible working hours and locations. The following guidance is provided for all CAES personnel.

Offices are expected to be staffed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in order to respond to clientele. Specific work hours and locations for individual employees are to be determined by the unit supervisor in order to maximize the effectiveness of the unit. All full-time faculty and staff are to work a minimum of 40 hours each week. While the usual hours of work are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., there are often sound reasons for alternative working hours. Also, personnel are usually assigned to a specific place of work such as an office, laboratory, greenhouse, etc. However, there are often good reasons for the primary work location to be at another location. Travel status does not constitute a change of location.

Deviations from the normal work location or work hours must be accounted for by the completion of an approved “Request to Work Nonconvential Hours and Location” form. This form must be signed by the person making the request, as well as the immediate supervisor, the unit head and appropriate administrative staff. A copy of the approved form must be provided to the person working nonconventional hours or location, as well as kept on file in the appropriate administrative offices.