Remote Work: Guidance and Resources for Employees

In the context of UW–Madison policy, remote work is a work arrangement in which some or all work is performed at an off-campus work site such as home or in an office space near home.

• This definition does not include workplace flexibilities, research trips, sabbaticals, or permanent off-campus work sites established by the university (e.g., field stations, CERN, IceCube).
• A “workplace flexibility” is a flexibility in which work is performed at an off-campus work site on a sporadic basis and does not follow a regular, repeated schedule.

At UW−Madison, remote work is viewed as a cooperative arrangement based on the needs of a position, the department or unit, and the university. Remote work arrangements can be pursued in cases where the implementation of these arrangements advances the university’s mission. Remote work arrangements should not be implemented if they diminish the connections and experiences needed to allow UW–Madison to flourish as a residential campus community.

School/college/division leadership, in conjunction with supervisors, will be responsible for deciding where remote work is possible and where it may hinder the performance and mission of the unit. In many cases where remote work was necessary during the pandemic, it may not be the right choice in the long run.

Remote work arrangements are considered on a case-by-case basis by evaluating all of the following factors:

• Job responsibilities (e.g., jobs that require physical presence for effective performance are not suitable for remote work);
• The effective functioning of the overall unit (e.g., trainees may need in-person assistance; flow of information may be shared more quickly among those physically present; etc.);
• Potential cost savings to the university, school/college/division, and department;
• The needs and preferences of the employee;
• Employee performance;
• Equipment needs, workspace design considerations, office space, and scheduling issues; and
• Adverse impact between employees with similar job responsibilities in the work unit (prevent inequities).

An employee or supervisor may recognize the benefits of a remote work agreement, and either can suggest remote work as a possible work arrangement.

Employees who work remotely are responsible for all of the following:

1. Working with their supervisors and other identified staff to ensure compliance with applicable laws, policies, and procedures;
2. Making any necessary adjustments for their personal income taxes and benefits; and
3. Working with campus IT staff to ensure any technology necessary to perform their work roles is compatible, secure, and in good working order.

To request a remote work arrangement, you will initiate a Remote Work Agreement, available in MyUW under Personal Information > Update My Personal Information. For instructions on how to access the agreement, please refer to the document Employee Access to Remote Work Agreement.

Updated July 26, 2021

If you have not already discussed a remote work arrangement with your supervisor, we strongly recommend that you have this conversation before initiating a Remote Work Agreement.

In addition, we recommend that you review the Employee Checklist for Completing a Remote Work Agreement. This checklist provides information, guidance, and potential action steps to help you prepare for successful completion of your Remote Work Agreement. While some of the information you will be asked to provide will be readily available to you, other requested information may take extra time to gather.

Updated July 26, 2021

Each school/college/division determines the specific procedures for evaluating and approving or denying a remote work request. A remote work arrangement must be agreed upon by school/college/division leadership, divisional Human Resources, and the employee’s supervisor. School/college/division leadership may delegate approval of remote work arrangements to supervisors.

An employee approved to work remotely must enter into a Remote Work Agreement. The Remote Work Agreement documents the terms and conditions of an employee’s remote work arrangement. It will include information about the employee’s work schedule (including when they are expected to be present for onsite activities), necessary equipment and services, guidelines for maintaining communication and work engagement, onsite and remote locations, and other details as appropriate.

Equipment provided to remote work employees, and its related costs, are determined, approved, and tracked by supervisors or divisional Human Resources. In general, employees are provided with a single computer (e.g., laptop) for performance of their responsibilities, unless additional equipment is otherwise required. Employees with remote work arrangements are generally expected to provide, at their own cost, internet connectivity at a quality necessary to support their work tasks, including the ability to use university-supported video conferencing tools. For employees who work both remotely and onsite, the university will generally not provide a fully equipped workspace at both locations (e.g., provide laptop for use in all work locations).

An employee must ensure that their remote workspace has the privacy, physical and technical security, appropriate equipment, software, and internet access to adequately perform their work responsibilities. Employees should reach out to their supervisor or divisional Human Resources for assistance as needed.

If an employee requests a remote work arrangement and the request is denied by school/college/division leadership, divisional Human Resources, or the employee’s supervisor, or if a supervisor modifies or revokes a remote work agreement, the employee may request a review of the decision by the vice chancellor, dean, or director of the employee’s school, college or division. The decision of the vice chancellor, dean, or director is final and may not be appealed.

The UW–Madison Remote Work Policy provides a formal process for employees to request a remote work arrangement. An employee with a disability who makes a request through the Remote Work Policy is making a request in the same way as a peer without a disability. If an employee chooses to make a request for a remote work arrangement, they do not need to (nor should they) disclose a disability or medical information. The employee’s request will be evaluated in the same manner as other remote work requests, and not as an accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

An employee with a disability may also choose to begin their request for a remote work arrangement as an accommodation request under the ADA and not under the Remote Work Policy process.

The university reserves the right to determine in advance whether it will approve an employee’s principal work location to be out-of-state, based on the operational needs of the university and whether the employee can meet performance expectations working out-of-state. School/college/division leadership, divisional Human Resources, and the employee’s supervisor decide whether to allow an individual to perform out-of-state work. An employee who works remotely out-of-state must enter into an Out-of-State Remote Work Agreement.

A school, college or division may employ an international remote worker only if the remote work is for a documented and approved business necessity. Business necessity is defined as a legitimate business purpose that fulfills the mission and objectives of the university and is not solely for the personal benefit of an employee.

Engaging in work in a country that is considered restricted by UW–Madison due to export control poses high risks and liabilities for the university. An employee may not engage in remote work  in any country restricted due to export control. An employee also may not engage in workplace flexibility in any country restricted due to export control. Workplace flexibility is flexibility in which work is performed at an off-campus work site on a sporadic basis and does not follow a regular, repeated schedule. The list of restricted countries is updated occasionally; a current list can be obtained from the Office of Export Control at research.wisc.edu/integrity-and-other-requirements/export-control.

Prior to approval for international remote work, the complex legal risks and liabilities of international remote work need to be addressed between the school/college/division, identified campus offices or departments, and the employee. The final arrangements will be reflected in the International Remote Work Agreement.

UW–Madison recognizes and embraces the dynamic, continually evolving nature of work on campus. As new tools and methods for connectivity become available, the university remains open to modifying its approach to remote work arrangements.