Flexible Work Arrangements
Employees should apply for a flexible work (flexwork) arrangement when requesting for personal reasons to work remotely and/or something other than their regularly scheduled hours for longer than two weeks. When the flexwork arrangement includes international travel, employees should apply regardless of the duration (even if it is less than two weeks).
- Faculty appointments have a degree of flexibility, given the nature of research/service activities and the variability of faculty work schedules. However, faculty should still request flexwork for significant schedule or location changes lasting longer than two weeks during the academic year. Faculty should consult their unit administrator and dean for guidance about flexwork relative to their appointment and position duties.
A flexwork arrangement is NOT required:
- If the request is non-international and for less than two weeks. Direct supervisors can approve flexible hours/remote work for up to two weeks at their discretion.
- If a position is permanently remote or located outside of a U of I location (for example, an out-of-state recruiter position).
- For work travel, such as attending conferences, conducting research or leading student trips.
Duration
An employee can request flexwork for up to six months at a time. If the arrangement is approved, the employee will receive a notification when it expiries and will have the opportunity to request a renewal.
International Flexwork
Starting July 1, 2024, employees applying for international flexwork will be considered to be on University International Travel as defined in APM 70.23, and therefore will also be required to register their travel through the International Programs Office's International Travel Registry. Being on University International Travel offers additional protections for the employee if work-related problems (e.g., the theft of university property) arise while abroad.
Medical Situations
Please note: If you are considering a flexwork arrangement for medical reasons (either your own or those of a family member), you may benefit from applying for Family and Medical Leave instead of or in addition to flexwork.
- Submit the flexible work arrangement request form.
- HR will review the form and confirm that a flexwork arrangement is required in your situation. If so, you will be asked to provide additional details.
- If your flexwork arrangement includes international travel, you must also register your travel through the International Programs Office. Please forward your confirmation email from IPO to hr-communications@uidaho.edu to confirm that your travel has been registered.
- Your flexwork application will be reviewed by your supervisor and unit/university leadership as appropriate.
- HR will notify you and your supervisor once your request has been approved or denied.
- Please note: while Human Resources facilitates the flexwork process, they do not approve or deny your request. Approval authority rests with the Vice President, Provost or President, depending on your unit’s reporting line.
- The employee will begin the process by filling out the flexible work arrangement form.
- HR will review the form to make sure the flexwork process is required. If so, the application will be forwarded to you. You will be asked to add information about how your unit will be affected by the request and to approve or deny the request.
- If you approve the request, you will forward the application on unit/university leadership for consideration.
- HR will notify both you and the employee once the application has been approved or denied.
- Please note: While Human Resources facilitates the flexwork process, they do not approve or deny the request. Approval authority rests with the Vice President, Provost or President, depending on your unit’s reporting line.