New Telework Policy for Classified Staff

Here is the DHRM Policy 1.61 Teleworking that provides details of the new telework policy for Classified Staff, determinants of eligibility for telework, overview of the Standard Telework Agreement, and more.

The Standard Telework Agreement is effective for one year and must be renewed annually. 

All Classified Staff who telework one day per week or more and wish to remain teleworking, must submit this form called Standard Telework Agreement. To do so: 

1. Fill out the Standard Telework Agreement to reflect the telework arrangement you and your manager have agreed upon. It is an electronically fillable pdf form. 

2. Print out the Standard Telework Agreement form. 

3. Sign the Standard Telework Agreement form (an original signature, in ink, is required). 

4. Scan the signed Standard Telework Agreement form into a pdf. If you do not have access to a scanner you can take high quality photos of each page of the form. 

5. Send the scanned, signed Standard Telework Agreement form to your manager who will submit it for approval. Details for the manager process are in the section below. Standard Telework Agreements will only be accepted if they are submitted by your manager. 

Submit your completed and signed Standard Telework Agreement form to your Manager before Friday, May 20.  

Your Manager must review, approve and submit your form to AskHR@virginia.edu no later than Friday, May 20.  

Your form will be reviewed according to the following: 

• 1 day per week telework request - Approval required from UVA President Ryan 

• 2 days per week telework request - Approval required from the Virginia Secretary of Education 

• 3-5 days per week telework request - Approval required from the Virginia Governor's Chief of Staff  

See the DHRM Policy 1.61 Teleworking for more details on this review process.  

Decisions will be communicated to staff members on or near June 3. How it will be communicated and by whom is still being determined.  

The effective date of the new policy and Standard Telework Agreement is July 5.  

Managers, once your Classified Staff member has provided you their completed and signed (EMPLOYEE ORIGINAL SIGNATURE) Standard Telework Agreement form, please review and make sure you approve of the request (your signature is not required on the form). If so, email it to AskHR@virginia.edu with the Email Subject Line: Telework Request Form Classified Staff - Manager Approval.

All forms must be submitted NO LATER than May 20. 

The Standard Telework Agreement will be reviewed and the staff member will be notified of the result on or near June 3. How it will be communicated and by whom is still being determined.

Any existing telework agreements for Classified Staff will no longer be effective as of July 5. They must be replaced following this process. 

This University Staff Conversion webpage describes the process of changing from Classified Staff to University Staff. 

NOTE - This conversion FAQ webpage contains important information about conversion including UVA's telework policy. 

Resources - The Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) is providing these Teleworking Resources for employees and managers as they work through the implementation of the new telework policy. These resources include a Telework Check Sheet with considerations that can be assessed to determine if a position is suitable for teleworking, if an employee has the demonstrated characteristics and performance necessary for successful teleworking, etc. 

FAQs - The following are FAQs are provided by DHRM regarding the new Telework Policy 1.61. Q&As such as why this policy is being implemented now, how is it different than previous policies, etc. DHRM FAQs

Questions - If you have questions for DHRM regarding the new telework policy you may contact them at  policy@dhrm.virginia.gov.

If you are currently on leave, when you return from leave you may complete the Standard Telework Agreement, submit to your manager for approval, and follow the same process as above. 

The new Telework Policy is intended to: 

● Recognize that teamwork, collaboration, and productivity skills need rejuvenation. 

● Provide a new telework framework for employees to assist the transition back to the office after this unprecedented period of remote working. 

● Demonstrate that the strongest teams are best cultivated and learning is most enhanced in an in-person setting. 

● Highlight and inform employees that teleworking is a benefit offered to employees, rather than an obligation of the Commonwealth. 

● Determine positions where telework is appropriate for managing the affairs and operations of their agency - Teleworking is not always a suitable alternative for many positions. 

● Require the review and replacement of all active individual telework agreements with the new standard agreement.  

● Assess individual and team objectives and overall performance expectations of the team when awarding new telework agreements. 

● Ensure that individual telework agreements reflect specific days of on-site work that are consistent with effective delivery of services and team collaboration. 

● Ensure that legal requirements are met for employees who have unique workplace considerations.