On June 23, we communicated that the 2021-2022 academic year will be treated as a “transitional” year, with ongoing flexibility provided and the option for hybrid work arrangements for various staff members where appropriate. The pandemic afforded us an opportunity to review how and where we work. In this transitional year, we will use the findings and lessons learned to help inform how we should operate in the future.
Decisions as to hybrid work arrangements for non-faculty employees will continue to be made by the managers and leaders in each college, school or unit. However, any request by an employee hired to work in Nebraska, Iowa or Arizona to work remotely from another state, even on a temporary basis, will require additional review and approval in order to ensure compliance with state tax and other laws. In these cases, employees must complete and submit to their manager an Employee Request Form. Managers who approve such a request must email the completed form to their assigned HR Generalist for further review and approval. Creighton is not approving work outside the U.S.
When determining work arrangements, special consideration should be given to the unit’s strategy, purpose and objectives, and the suitability of the position to the hybrid and remote work environment. It is important to understand where and how people interact with the role, how the work is most effectively delivered, and the impact on workflow and team efficacy. The focus of the flexible work arrangement must remain on meeting business demands and job performance expectations. Questions regarding whether a position is suited to a new or continued hybrid work arrangement should be directed to your manager.
To assist you during this transitional year, we are providing the following voluntary tools:
- Frequently Asked Questions – to assist employees and managers with guidance on such matters as technology, privacy considerations, and more.
- Employee Request Form (ERF) – an optional tool you can use to help you think through decisions for hybrid work arrangements. (Completion of this form is required for employees requesting to work remotely from states outside of Nebraska, Iowa and Arizona.)
- Stakeholder Assessment Form – a tool to guide you on how to assess whether the arrangement is meeting the needs of the University, stakeholders, customers and others.
- Feedback Form – a Qualtrics survey form will be used to capture input and suggestions.
Managers and remote staff within the EVP’s organization will be piloting the hybrid work arrangement proposed guidelines, processes and tools and providing feedback to inform our approach post this transitional year. Details about the pilot, including separate training for pilot participants, will be shared with the EVP organization soon.
From Provost Mardell A. Wilson, EdD, RDN, and Executive Vice President Jan D. Madsen, CPA
