Flexible Workplace

CMU’s Mt. Pleasant location is a residential campus; our students thrive in a living/learning environment robust with vitality. Nurturing a strong sense of community, living productively among others, and fostering rewarding relationships are foundational to CMU’s mission, vision, and learning goals. Our stewardship as a public institution and our service to CMU students call upon us to ensure offices are welcoming and responsive.

CMU work locations must be appropriately staffed to accomplish our mission and vision effectively. It is generally expected that the regularly assigned CMU place of employment is in-person, on-campus. However, recognizing a wide range of roles and responsibilities fulfilled by employees, circumstances may arise in which an alternate work arrangement may be used to optimally balance the needs of the university and an employee and/or work team. The roles and functions of some employees will always require physical presence and standard schedules. However, many others may use flexible schedules and remote work principles to meet objectives efficiently and effectively. Such alternate arrangements might include alternative work schedules or a flexible worksite.

Flexible worksite documents

Flexible worksite policy training resources

Flexible worksite procedures

Three forms are necessary for the purpose of requesting a Flexible Worksite Arrangement:

  • Flexible Worksite Request Form (completed by Employee)
  • Flexible Worksite Checklist (completed by supervisor)
  • Flexible Worksite Agreement (completed by both Employee and supervisor)

1. Employees whose job duties may be performed from a remote location may request to be considered for a Flexible Worksite Arrangement. Employees must complete a Flexible Worksite Request Form and discuss their interest with their immediate supervisor, explaining the nature of the Arrangement and the extent of the work that may be completed remotely.

2. Prior to approving a Flexible Worksite Agreement, a supervisor must consider the Request From and determine whether a Flexible Worksite Arrangement would be mutually beneficial to the Employee and the university by completing a Flexible Worksite Checklist considering department/operation needs, position and Employee suitability, remote work environment suitability, impact on students, coworkers, and the public including onsite coverage and any other concerns that may impact service and productivity. If the request is initially approved by the immediate supervisor, the Employee and the supervisor will complete a Flexible Worksite Agreement. The Agreement is not considered approved until all required signatures have been secured. The Employee will sign the document after the division head has approved and signed.

3. The supervisor will then review and discuss the competed forms (Flexible Worksite Request Form, Flexible Worksite Checklist, and the Flexible Worksite Agreement) and the proposed Arrangement with the chain of command, including the Senior Manager.

4. If the Senior Manager approves and signs the Agreement, the Senior Manager submits the documents to the division head for review, discussion, and approval.

5. If the Agreement is approved and signed by the division head, the supervisor may then review and discuss the Flexible Worksite Agreement with the Employee. If Employee signs the Agreement, the supervisor shall submit the completed Flexible Worksite Request Form, Flexible Worksite Checklist and Flexible Worksite Agreement to Human Resources (HR) for review. 

6. After HR reviews the documents, HR will provide a final signed copy of the Agreement to the supervisor, the Employee, and the Senior Manager. Copies will be retained in the Employee’s personnel file.

7. Requests that are not supported/approved will be communicated to the Employee by the supervisor. A copy of the initial request and documented rationale for the decision must be retained by the supervisor.

8. All Flexible Worksite Arrangements must have a sign Agreement in place and on file with Human Resources. Agreements for Employees with a regularly assigned in-person physical CMU owned/leased worksite must be reviewed by the supervisor and the Employee at least annually to determine whether the Arrangement should continue and/or what, if any, changes to the Agreement should be made. 

A flexible worksite addendum may be used for subsequent year requests.