Requesting Arrangements
How to Introduce a Flexible Work Arrangement
Flexible work arrangements require supervisor approval and depend on a partnership between the supervisor and staff to ensure that the needs of students, faculty/staff and the university are being met.
Staff members and their supervisors are encouraged to discuss their needs and to work together to develop the best possible arrangement for their situation. Here are the steps for introducing a flexible work arrangement:
1. Review the Options
Review all of the flexible work arrangement options and determine which would be most desirable and appropriate.
- The office and organizational needs, with particular focus given to opportunities for student services, improved accountability, cost effectiveness and customer satisfaction
- The demands of the job
- Personal needs and preferences
- Personal work style and capabilities
- Guidelines for Success (including hourly staff and salaried staff guidelines).
2. Prepare a Proposal for Discussion
The staff member prepares a proposal for discussion with the unit head/supervisor requesting the flexible work arrangement, covering:
- Benefits to the students/university/department/unit
- Reasons the option will work for the job
- Why you are suitable for this option
- What processes will be needed to maintain good communication and continue to achieve the work goals, and
- How accountability, cost effectiveness and customer satisfaction needs will be addressed.
3. Unit Head/Supervisor Provides Support
If the unit head/supervisor provides support of the proposal, the arrangement must be formalized by the employee completing the online flexible work arrangement form. This will then move through the workflow for review and decision by the unit head/supervisor and appointing officer. If all approvals are received, the unit head/supervisor should discuss any issues that may affect the work unit and set appropriate expectations.
4. Option is Piloted (Recommended)
It is recommended the flexible work arrangement is piloted for 3 months. Other durations may be used as appropriate. During the pilot period, the unit head/supervisor and faculty/staff member should meet regularly to discuss how the arrangement is going. The following questions can be reviewed:
- Are expectations clearly understood?
- Is productivity being maintained?
- Are the students/university/entity/department/unit needs still being met?
- Are there benefits that can be identified?
- Are there adjustments to the arrangement that might be desired by either party?
- Should the arrangement be maintained?
Note: At the end of the pilot period, the arrangement should be evaluated. It should be understood from the start that either the unit head/supervisor or faculty/staff member may end the arrangement if the goals of the arrangement are not being met. Supervisor and staff member should discuss their concerns, then follow up with a written two-week notice to return to the pre-flexibility work arrangement. If you and your supervisor agree on a FWA, you may or may not be able to go back to your original work arrangement.
Staff Member's Role
- Consider need, work conditions, type of flexible work arrangement that would meet this need and why
- Describe the benefits for students/supervisor/customers/co-workers would experience based on the option
- Anticipate challenges, provide suggestions to address
- Be open to feedback and changes to the proposal
- Be accountable for written agreements, including supervisor and appointing officer signatures
- Communicate with supervisor to ensure you are meeting expectations
- Regularly evaluate arrangement with supervisor and implement agreed upon changes
Supervisor's Role
- Focus on the organizational benefits
- Support concept verbally and through personal modeling of balanced work practices
- Work collaboratively with staff to address problems and/or obstacles
- Clearly communicate defined tasks and expectations
- Measure performance through results and behaviors
- Provide regular feedback on performance
- Be willing to reverse a plan if it is not serving the department's or individual's needs
- Set expectations for procedures and guidelines for flexible work arrangements with all staff.
- Supervisor to notify Human Resources and Payroll of changes to a FWA that impact compensation or benefits (see FWA guidelines)