Remote Work Policy and Remote Work Agreement
(Adopted 8/17/20)
Page 1 of 5 Employee Initials ______________ Date ___________
In most cases, Wittenberg University employees are expected to work on the physical campus. However, a remote
work arrangement may be a viable alternative. In some instances, such as a health crisis, remote work may
become an expectation for some positions. In all situations in which remote work is considered, physical office
spaces must be appropriately staffed in order to effectively pursue our educational mission.
Remote work allows an employee to work all or part of the work week from a location other than campus, such as
a home office or while traveling. Remote work is an alternative that may be appropriate for some employees and
some positions. It is not a University-wide benefit, and does not change the University’s employment terms and
conditions. Employees working remotely are subject to all University policies and procedures, regardless of work
location.
Additionally, the following provisions must be adhered to:
• Productive work is expected of remote workers and is not to be considered a substitute for childcare or
other dependent care;
• Acceptable attendance requirements and tracking methods must be utilized;
• Expectations regarding communication, deliverables and measuring productivity must be established wit
h
yo
ur supervisor;
• The appropriate use of necessary equipment and supplies, including electronic hardware, software, and
d
evices must be determined;
• Great care must be taken to ensure security of all institutional documents, reports, records a
nd
equipment;
• New funds will not be added to accommodate remote work, whether through additional hours or throug
h
t
he purchase of new equipment by the University;
• Annual review (at minimum) of the remote work arrangement.
Human Resources will provide additional guidance to employees and supervisors upon request regarding remote
work options and agreements.
Remote Work Guidelines/Procedures
In considering an employee’s request for a remote work arrangement, all parties must ensure that core hours
and/or periods of high-volume activity (as determined by University and department leadership) are appropriately
staffed, whether on the physical campus, through an online presence, or a combination. During these times,
university and/or department leadership may require that employees permitted to work remotely report to work
on campus.
An employee seeking a remote work arrangement must submit a written request to their supervisor outlining the
rationale for the remote work request, a plan for meeting the responsibilities of their position, proposed work
schedule and location, and the proposed start and end date of the remote work period.
- Considerations for evaluating remote work requests:
o Every proposal must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis including, but not limited to, a
discussion between the supervisor and employee regarding the reasons for the request and the
needs of the employee’s department. When evaluating the request, the following factors must
be considered:
Operational needs of the department and the university, including the potential impact
on students, faculty, staff, visitors, etc.
Ability for the department to maintain appropriate staffing levels, particularly during
core hours and periods of high-volume activity.
Impact on students, other employees within the department, and other employees who
may work regularly with the department.
Employee’s past performance.
