Telecommuting and flexible work arrangements

Colorado State University supports working from home to help reduce commuter trips to the University while preserving valuable parking space on campus.
A Human Resources policy outlines the university’s stance on telecommuting:

CSU policy on flexible work arrangements

The University values its employees’ well-being and strives to promote a positive work-life integration. Flexible work arrangements, such as flextime schedules, compressed workweeks, part-time arrangements, telecommuting, job sharing, sabbaticals, and phased retirement can help employees balance work and personal life demands while, at the same time, enabling employees to meet their needs and perform well the duties of their position. Flexible work arrangements are encouraged whenever, in the discretion of the department or unit head, they will promote the productivity and efficiency of the work unit and enhance employees’ work-life integration. (from General Provisions – Page 9: http://www.hrs.colostate.edu/pdfs/hrs-manual-1-general-provisions.pdf)

Types of flexible work arrangements

Flextime schedules: A work schedule that allows an employee to vary their start and end times around pre-defined core hours without changing the total hours worked in a defined work week. The core period will vary by the unit, position, and sometimes the time of year; in most areas, it is between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Compressed workweek: A full-time work schedule that is compressed by varying the length of the workday into fewer than five days. For example, an employee who normally works 40 hours Monday-Friday may work four 10-hour days instead.

Telecommuting: A work schedule that allows employees to work part or all of their work hours from a location other than their regular work site. An example would be an employee who works from a home office two days per week.

Connecting to your work computer from home

Secure remote access to the CSU network is provided via Secure Gateway, also called SSL VPN. Users can connect from any web browser at https://secure.colostate.edu.

Instructions for connecting to the secure gateway

• Windows, Mac, and Linux
• Apple iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) using the Junos Pulse app
• Android using the Junos Pulse app
• Manual installers

Review the video below about the benefits of telecommuting

Managing employees

Here are some best practices for managers of employees that telework:

• Facilitate a teleworking protocols meeting with your team
• Build a trusting environment
• Monitor performance by holding employees accountable for their work
• Stay connected, ensuring all team members use the best means of communication
• Be transparent by sharing calendars, messaging, and updating your work status
• Manage by results, not by physical presence with a clear definition of objectives and performance indicators

It is important that managers recognize that regular communication with your employee will help you stay updated on if any of the following issues occur.

• Telecommuting is not for everyone since telecommuters must be self-directed.
• Telework is a benefit that is earned, not given.
• Discuss security issues.
• IT infrastructure changes may be necessary to access to company systems, software, and data.