Due to the pandemic, many UW–Madison employees are now facing additional family care responsibilities, which they must balance with their job responsibilities. These new family challenges may include child care, elder care, or care for family members impacted by COVID-19.
To support employees and to lessen these challenges, the university is encouraging units to offer workplace flexibilities to employees where possible and appropriate. Workplace flexibilities may include telecommuting, job sharing, alternative work weeks, variable hours, reassignment, and more. Of course, not every situation can be accommodated; for example, remote work may not be possible in some cases, or the work must be done at a particular time and in a particular location.
If you are an employee seeking assistance in balancing work and child care responsibilities, we encourage you to speak with your supervisor or department chair. Every employee concern will be individually evaluated based on duties, work environment, and workplace needs. If you have a medical or disability related concern, see Accommodations & Workplace Flexibilities: Employee Guidance.
If you are a supervisor or department chair, UW–Madison will support your efforts to assist employees facing family caregiving challenges.
On this page, we offer guidance and resources for both employees who are facing family caregiving challenges and their supervisors. Additional resources will be added as they become available, so please check back regularly.
Table of Contents
Questions?
If you are an employee with family caregiving questions or concerns, please contact:
- Your supervisor or department chair.
- The local human resources contact where you work.
- The Office of Human Resources at 608-265-2257 or smartrestartHR@ohr.wisc.edu.
If you are a supervisor or department chair and have questions or need assistance, please contact the human resources representative in your school, college, or division.
Language assistance is available.
Español, Hmoob, བོད་ཡིག, 中文, नेपाली
Spanish, Hmong, Tibetan, Chinese, Nepali
Employee Guidance
- Accommodations & Workplace Flexibilities: Employee Guidance
- Workplace Flexibilities: Guidance for Employees with Childcare Needs
- Leave Options
- Employee FAQs: Reasonable Accommodations, Workplace Flexibilities, and Leave Options
- Sick Leave Policy Addendum
- How to have conversations about Family Caregiving and Work Flexibility
Supervisor Guidance
- August 27, 2020 Message to Department Chairs, Center Directors, Managers and Supervisors
- Accommodations & Workplace Flexibilities: Supervisor/Manager Overview
- Workplace Flexibilities: Guidance for Supervisor/Managers Assisting Employees with Childcare Needs
- Supervisor FAQs: Reasonable Accommodation, Workplace Flexibilities, and Leave Options
- How to have conversations about Family Caregiving and Work Flexibility
Caregiving Resources
Language Assistance
Español / Spanish
608-265-0838
solanabel.rodriguez@wisc.edu
中文 / Chinese
608-890-2628
shuwen.li@wisc.edu
Hmoob / Hmong
608-263-2217
jzong.thao@wisc.edu
नेपाली / Nepali
608-262-7521
parwat.regmi@wisc.edu
བོད་ཡིག / Tibetan
608-890-2545
yangbum.gyal@wisc.edu
Language assistance from
Cultural Linguistic Services