As more University of Michigan employees return to working on-site and as state health guidelines change, University Human Resources has guidance and resources to help manage the transition.
Updated information about remote and flexible work arrangements, as well as resources to support employees and teams, can be found on the new Future of Work Resource Center page on the UHR website.
New work agreements for remote and hybrid employees
Ann Arbor campus faculty and staff who have been working remotely through the COVID-19 pandemic are in the process of a gradual return to more on-site work at the direction of their units’ leaders as the university prepares to welcome students to campus for the fall term.
The university supports continued hybrid work where it is possible and will allow decisions to be made at the school, college and unit level.
New work agreements have been created by University Human Resources and the Office of the General Counsel for use with regular and temporary staff.
Staff who have received approval from their supervisor, unit HR, and central offices as appropriate to work off-site must have a current agreement on file with their department.
There are two versions based on the staff member’s primary work location:
- The Remote Work Agreement is for staff who will spend three or more days per week working from an off-site location.
- The Flexible Workplace Agreement is for staff who will spend one or two days per week working from an off-site location.
These documents replace the previous “telecommuting agreement” templates and should be used when staff have approval to work from an off-site location.
Units that may want to customize the templates should consult with their central human resources office.
Michigan Medicine faculty and staff should continue to follow the Michigan Medicine remote work guidance provided, including having a remote work agreement on file.
Academic Human Resources can provide guidance on remote work for faculty and graduate student employees (graduate student instructors, graduate student research assistants, and graduate student staff assistants).
Updated vaccination and mask policies
The university recently announced employees who report their vaccination status are generally exempt from the indoor masking and social distancing requirements on campus.
Current university policy permits fully vaccinated individuals who report their status to choose to be indoors without a face covering. Face coverings are still required for those not fully vaccinated.
Masks are still required in Michigan Medicine’s main campus and remote locations. Fully vaccinated employees in research labs and spaces can work indoors without masks, provided they are not engaging in research with human subjects.
Daily screening using the ResponsiBLUE app remains in place.
In university environments where face coverings are not required for individuals who are fully vaccinated, supervisors may, but are not required to, confirm vaccination status. Employees can show their confirmation email or ResponsiBlue app after they register and receive confirmation.
In addition, faculty and staff on the Ann Arbor campus who self-report their vaccine status will be eligible for prize drawings.
Training to support remote and hybrid teams
New virtual and on-demand sessions are available to help teams navigate the new future of work. Sessions are offered by Organizational Learning, FASCCO and LinkedIn Learning.
Topics include:
- Preparing for a New Hybrid Workplace.
- Prioritizing Self-Care.
- How to Use SMART Goals.
- Difficult Conversations.
- Re-acclimating to Being on Campus and Self-Help Tips to Address Anxiety.
