Flexible Work Program
Overview
Wake Forest is a residential university, with a commitment to the teacher scholar ideal, service, and engagement. Our dedication to mission prioritizes personal interaction between students, faculty, and staff. While a majority of roles on campus require an in-person (i.e., on-site) presence for service and engagement, some positions may be suited for Flexible Work Location and/or Alternative Work Schedule consideration.
Flexible Work Arrangements, whether Flexible Work Location or Alternative Work Schedule, permit eligible staff employees to complete their work from an alternative location or within a modified schedule that has been mutually agreed upon by an employee and their supervisor in alignment with the University’s Flexible Work Policy and divisional and unit operational needs.
The University recognizes that the utilization of Flexible Work Arrangements offers advantages for both the University and employees where these arrangements are operationally appropriate. Implementation of an effective flexible work program enhances the University’s ability to attract and retain talented employees, and provides increased flexibility in employees’ work-life integration. Successful Flexible Work Arrangements align campus and team needs and are characterized by frequent, effective communication and performance goals, expectations, and reviews.
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Documentation Resources
Flexible Work Policy
The Flexible Work Policy provides important details for individuals, supervisors, and hiring managers, and should be reviewed prior to establishing a Flexible Work Arrangement.
- Administrative Leave and Release Time
- Computer Management Policy
- Corrective Action and Dismissal of Staff
- Family and Medical Leave
- Inclement Weather and Other Unusual Conditions
- Information Security Policy
- Nondiscrimination Statement
- Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability
- Paid Time Off
- Parking and Transportation Administrative Procedure
- Responsible and Ethical Use of Computing Resources
- Staff Grievance and Appeal Process
- Standard Work Week and Hours of Work
- Travel Administrative Procedure
- Workers’ Compensation Leave
Flexible Work Eligibility
- The ability to successfully uphold and advance the University’s mission.
- The division’s and unit’s operational needs.
- Position responsibilities and constituent interactions.
Eligibility to participate in a Flexible Work Arrangement is based on (i) the ability to successfully uphold and advance the University’s mission while engaging in a Flexible Arrangement, (ii) the division’s and unit’s operational needs, and (iii) position responsibilities and constituent interactions. Flexible Work Arrangements may not be suitable for all positions and/or all employees.
Flexible Work Location Modalities
A Flexible (Alternative) Work Location is a location other than the employee’s conventional, on-site work location where an employee is permitted to complete their job duties.
An employee’s Flexible Work Location must guarantee at least the same level of privacy, security, and confidentiality as the otherwise assigned on-site workspace.
Employees performing work outside of North Carolina must comply with applicable Wake Forest University policies pertaining to out-of-state work and with applicable employment laws for the location where the work is occurring.
Important: Before performing work in a state other than North Carolina, employees must document their Flexible Work Agreement in Workday and receive approval via Workday notification. For questions, contact Human Resources (askHR@wfu.edu).
Work Location Modalities
An eligible employee performs some of their work on-site and some from a Flexible Work Location each week; the number of weekly on-site and flexible location days remains fixed. The specific days may be fixed at the employee level (e.g., employee A works on-site Monday and Tuesday, while employee B works on-site Wednesday and Thursday) or at the division or unit level (e.g., everyone in the unit is expected to be on-site on Mondays and Tuesdays).
An eligible employee performs some of their work on-site and some from a Flexible Work Location; the number of weekly on-site and flexible location days varies. There is not a fixed number of required on-site work days. Employees are expected to be available to join on-site meetings and events with reasonable notice.
An eligible employee performs all of their work from a Flexible Work Location without an expectation to join regular on-site meetings. Divisions or units may require occasional travel for in-person meetings or events.
A Work Location Modality sub-category in which an eligible employee works on-site for the majority of the year and then establishes a Flexible Work Location Arrangement (Fixed Hybrid, Variable Hybrid, or Fully Remote) for a time-limited period in which the degree of in-person constituent interaction is predictably reduced. In most instances of the Cyclical Hybrid Modality sub-category, an employee will work flexibly only during a short, time-limited period, such as the week of spring break, the weeks surrounding the winter break, and/or parts of the summer months.
Considerations
The University will withhold all appropriate taxes from an employee’s paycheck based on the employee’s primary work address, as recorded in Workday. It is the employee’s responsibility to
ensure that both the primary work address and the primary home address recorded in Workday are accurate, timely, and that the appropriate employment taxes are being withheld.
Employees working at a location other than a University property are responsible for having and maintaining an alternative workspace that is both safe and conducive to performing their job duties. Workspaces should be free from distractions, hazards, and other dangers.
The University will provide one set of technology equipment deemed necessary for an employee’s essential job functions, regardless of Work Modality or Alternative Work Schedule. Employees will not be provided any additional office equipment, such as desks, chairs, lamps, monitors, keyboards etc., for a Flexible Work Location. Employees are also responsible for the purchase of any needed duplicate computer peripherals for an alternative office space and reliable internet/telephone connectivity.
Consistent with Wake Forest University’s expectations of information security for employees working on-site and Information Security Policy, employees working at an Alternative Location will be expected to ensure the continued protection of confidential, private, and proprietary information received or created off-site as part of their employment. An employee’s Flexible Work Location must guarantee at least the same level of privacy, security, and confidentiality as the otherwise assigned on-site workspace.
Employees who have been approved to work a Hybrid or Fully Remote work modality should
follow the guidance in the University’s Travel Administrative Procedure. The procedure states that staff are eligible for business travel reimbursement except for commuting to and from their primary work location (i.e., tax home). Although Fully Remote employees are not expected to attend on-site meetings or events regularly, there may be opportunities for a Fully Remote employee to attend on-site meetings to meet colleagues, attend training, and participate in community-building events.
International employees are subject to specific federal regulations that require additional reporting if they are working outside of the Piedmont Triad area. Employees with the H-1B visa status should contact ISS (iss@wfu.edu) prior to working outside of the Piedmont Triad area.
Visit The Center for Immigration Services and Support (ISS) website and contact ISS (iss@wfu.edu) for more information.
WFU does not permit Flexible Work Arrangements in all U.S. states. Read the Flexible Work Policy for more information and contact Human Resources (askHR@wfu.edu) with questions.
As of October 1, 2023, an FLSA exempt employee’s proposal to work outside of the following states requires additional review in Workday from Human Resources: North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Due to tax implications and other regulatory considerations, an FLSA non-exempt employee’s proposal to work from a Flexible Work Location outside of North Carolina requires additional review in Workday by Human Resources.
Regardless of position eligibility, an employee may not engage in a Flexible Work Arrangement if they have an active Performance Improvement Plan and/or a recent (previous 12 months) formal written Corrective Action. Contact Human Resources at askHR@wfu.edu for questions about these eligibility criteria.
Alternative Work Schedule Types
Alternative Work Schedules offer flexibility in an eligible employee’s scheduled starting and ending times or the number of days each week that an employee performs their regular, standard weekly hours. The total number of hours worked per week should remain the same as the hours outlined in the University’s Standard Work Week and Hours of Work policy and is not affected by this arrangement. Alternative Work Schedules should be predictable and consistent from week to week.
Schedule Types
A weekly work schedule that allows an eligible employee to adjust their starting and ending times but does not alter the total hours worked per week.
A weekly work schedule in which an eligible employee completes their regular, standard weekly hours, but in fewer than five full workdays.*
*There are limitations to FLSA non-exempt employees’ eligibility to work a condensed schedule outside of North Carolina. See “Eligibility Limitations” and contact Human Resources (askHR@wfu.edu) with questions.
An eligible employee works their typical schedule for the majority of the year and then establishes an Alternative Schedule (Flexible Start and End Times or Condensed Schedule) for a time-limited period in which the degree of in-person student or employee interaction is predictably reduced. In most instances of the Cyclical Alternative Schedule sub-category, an employee will work flexibly only during a short, time-limited period, such as the week of spring break, the weeks surrounding the winter break, and/or parts of the summer months.
Considerations
Due to tax implications and other regulatory considerations, an FLSA non-exempt employee’s proposal to work a Condensed Schedule from a Flexible Work Location outside of North Carolina requires additional review in Workday by Human Resources. WFU does not permit non-exempt employee Flexible Work Arrangements in all U.S. states. Contact Human Resources (askHR@wfu.edu) with questions.
Regardless of position eligibility, an employee may not engage in a Flexible Work Arrangement if they have an active Performance Improvement Plan and/or a recent (previous 12 months) formal written Corrective Action. Contact Human Resources at askHR@wfu.edu for questions about these eligibility criteria.
Documenting a Flexible Work Arrangement
The development of any Flexible Work Arrangement is a collaborative effort. Supervisors and staff members should engage in this 3-step collaborative process:
Discuss, Then Develop a Plan
Carefully review the Flexible Work Policy and consider the eligibility guidelines. If you believe your position aligns with this guidance, you may initiate a conversation with your supervisor regarding your interest and eligibility.
If you are deemed eligible, co-develop a plan using the Flexible Work Arrangement Planning Guide (strongly encouraged) to outline expectations.
Document Your Arrangement
Once you have developed a plan with your supervisor, document your proposed arrangement by submitting the details in Workday. Resources for navigating this process are below.
You will receive a notification in Workday when your proposal has been reviewed. Do not engage in a new Flexible Work Arrangement or perform any work out-of-state until you have received an approval notification.
Revisit and Revise
Continue to have regular conversations with your supervisor about performance and engagement and make adjustments to your plan as necessary. The efficacy of the arrangement should also be considered during your regular performance evaluations.
Any changes to or termination of your arrangement should be documented in Workday.
Resources for Documenting Your Arrangement
View the Establishing a Flexible Work Arrangement (Staff) Toolkit or the Instructional Video (Employees) for step-by-step instructions.
Job Aids: Request Arrangement (Employees), End Arrangement (Employees), and Approve or Deny Arrangement (Manager)
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to submit anything in Workday if I work fully on-site?
No, if you are working fully on-site (and you are not proposing an Alternative Work Schedule) then you are not required to submit anything in Workday regarding your work arrangement. Only those requesting to participate in a flexible work arrangement need to submit a request.
How do I modify a flexible work arrangement I have already established in Workday?
You cannot edit an existing flexible work arrangement in Workday. Complete the “End My Flexible Work Arrangement” task, and then document your updated arrangement using the “Request Flexible Work Arrangement” task.
I am a hiring manager seeking to fill a position that is eligible for a flexible work location arrangement. What do I need to know?
WFU does not permit Flexible Work Arrangements in all U.S. states. Contact Human Resources (askHR@wfu.edu) before extending an offer to a finalist candidate who is (1) an FLSA exempt employee who proposes to work in a state other than North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia, or (2) an FLSA non-exempt employee who proposes an arrangement in a state other than North Carolina.
What should I do if I plan to establish a flexible work arrangement for a time-limited period of time, like parts of the summer months?
A flexible work arrangement with a time-limited duration, like parts of the summer months, is considered a Cyclical Hybrid arrangement. When you document your flexible work arrangement in Workday using the “Request Flexible Work Arrangement Task” be sure to enter the proposed end date of your arrangement. If you will utilize a Cyclical Hybrid arrangement for a time-limited period each year, you should document the arrangement in Workday each time your Cyclical arrangement starts.
If I have established a flexible work arrangement in a state outside of North Carolina, am I permitted to perform work in any state?
WFU does not permit Flexible Work Arrangements in all U.S. states. Employees considering a move to a different state should contact Human Resources first to confirm that WFU permits eligible employees to work from that state.
Do I need to submit a request for a short-term flexible work arrangement?
There may be instances in which it is appropriate for an employee to request a short-term (less than 30 days) alternative location or modified schedule outside of a formal Workday agreement.
Important: If any work will be provided outside the state of North Carolina, contact Human Resources (askHR@wfu.edu).
See the “Emergencies and Unexpected Contingencies” section of the Flexible Work Policy and contact Human Resources (askHR@wfu.edu) for guidance.
Helpful Links & Articles
- Flexible Work Arrangement Planning Guide
- Flexible Work at WFU (IS)
- How to Improve Your Organization’s Virtual Collaboration (Center for Creative Leadership)
- 5 Challenges of Hybrid Work – and How to Overcome Them (HBR)
- How to Lead in a Hybrid Environment (McKinsey & Company)
- Leadership Strategies for the Hybrid Workplace (MIT Sloan Management Review)
- Managing the Cultural Pitfalls of Hybrid Work (MIT Sloan Management Review)
- Life Kit: How to Make Hybrid Work Successful (NPR)
- Life Kit: Hybrid work is here. These tips can help you and your team thrive (NPR)
- Getting to Know Your Virtual Team: 10 Strategies (Remote.co)
Wake Forest University Human Resources
P.O. Box 7424, Winston-Salem, NC 27109
askHR@wfu.edu | P 336.758.4700 | F 336.758.6127