General Request Process

How to Request a Flexible Work Arrangement

Hybrid and Fully Remote Work Arrangements – Requests and Approvals

To request a hybrid or fully remote work arrangement, a staff member must submit an online Remote Work Request Form. Managers may also require that staff members provide additional information relevant to the staff member’s position, job duties, or the needs of the department. 

A hybrid or fully remote work arrangement must be approved by the staff member’s manager and the appropriate dean or vice president (or a designee of the dean or vice president). If the staff member’s remote work location is outside Massachusetts, the arrangement must also be approved by the vice president for human resources, as described in Section 12 below.

A hybrid or fully remote work arrangement may not begin until a Remote Work Request Form is complete, with all required approvals. The staff member will complete the form which will be automatically routed to their manager for additional information and first-level approval. The form will then be routed to the appropriate dean, vice president, or designee (and for out-of-state work, the vice president for human resources) for additional approval. The completed document will be returned to the staff member and manager.

Modified Work Schedules – Requests and Approvals

To request a modified work schedule, a staff member must submit a written request to their manager identifying the proposed schedule. Staff should discuss modified work schedules with their managers before making requests. 

A modified work schedule must be approved in writing by the staff member’s manager. If the staff member’s regular or remote work location is outside of Massachusetts, the manager must also obtain the approval of the vice president for human resources before allowing a modified work schedule.

If a modified work schedule changes the number of hours a staff member works per day (e.g., a compressed work schedule of four ten-hour days), the manager must ensure that the work schedule is entered into SAP through an Employee Position Update by the department’s payroll coordinator. Further detail on entering the modified work schedule into SAP is available in the “Updates During Employment” section on the HR Systems website. 

        Preexisting Flexible Work Arrangements
        • Flexible work arrangements that were in place prior to the issuance of these Guidelines are subject to these Guidelines in all respects.
        Requests for Reconsideration
        • A staff member whose request for a flexible work arrangement has been denied may request reconsideration of the decision. Requests for reconsideration must be directed to the applicable Dean or Vice President, except those concerning denials by Human Resources for flexible work arrangements outside of Massachusetts, which must be directed to the Vice President for Human Resources.
        Management Discretion