Remote and Flexible Work Agreements

Posted June 23, 2021

Employees who have received approval from their supervisor, unit HR, and central offices as appropriate to work off-site must have an agreement on file with their department.

These agreements help to ensure a safe work environment, alignment with university policies and procedures, agreed-upon standard work hours, communication methods, and work expectations.

Departments are expected to review these agreements annually at a minimum and renew them as appropriate.

Work Agreement Documents

There are two work agreement documents based on the staff member's primary work location:

  • Remote Work Agreement:  Use this agreement when a staff member will regularly work remotely from an off-site work location.
  • Flexible Workplace Agreement: Use this agreement when a staff member will work three or more days per week at the U-M work location and the remainder of time at an off-site work location.

These agreements have been created by University Human Resources and the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) for use with regular and temporary staff. If you have questions about modifying them, please contact your central office HR representative. 

Michigan Medicine faculty and staff should continue to follow the Michigan Medicine remote work guidance provided, including having a remote work agreement on file.

Please contact Academic HR for guidance on remote work for Instructional and Primary faculty, as well as Graduate Student Instructors, Graduate Student Research Assistants, and Graduate Student Staff Assistants.

Process for Reviewing/Filing Agreements

Employment outside of the United States is discouraged, absent compelling business reasons.

Employment outside of the United States or from a U.S. Territory requires review, consultation, and may require permission from central office administration before extending an offer/approving an arrangement. Contact your Unit HR representative to coordinate central office review.

Units must keep remote work agreements on file. Units may choose to use “Maintain Teleworkers” in MPathways to keep the agreement on file. Maintain Teleworkers provides a central repository for storing agreements in Document Imaging, and will capture effective dates, expected number of days of the week, and work location if working outside of the state of Michigan.

Resources

  • Property Control: Employees with regular appointments and students with class requirements can use university equipment at off-campus locations whenever it will benefit U-M's teaching, research, administration, and patient care. Review policies, procedures and responsibilities on the U-M Property Control site.
  • Safe Computing: Employees working off-site are responsible for the confidentiality and security of U-M information. Read more on the Safe Computing site.
  • Ergonomics: Find information about maintaining a healthy, safe workspace on the Ergonomics Tips and Educational Resources page.