Meeting Topic
Managing Flexible Work Schedules
Meeting Resources
- Watch the Recording
- Download the Slides
- Flexible Work Training Courses
- Weekly Check-in with Employee Worksheet
- Find Your HR Generalist Team
Meeting Summary
At this month's supervisors meeting, we discussed the upcoming Space Management and Flexible Work Policy launching Summer 2026. Chanté Martin, Associate Vice President of Human Resources, walked through implementation timelines, clarified what requires documentation versus what doesn't, and shared decision-making frameworks for evaluating flexible work requests. The policy creates a consistent process for documenting arrangements but does not eliminate flexible work options—division leaders and deans retain authority to offer remote or hybrid work based on business needs.
The conversation emphasized that business needs can change arrangements over time, even those negotiated at hire. When this happens, supervisors should provide compassionate transitions that acknowledge employees may have structured their lives around current schedules. Discussion also centered on managing remote and hybrid teams effectively through regular one-on-ones, clear response-time expectations, and explicit performance goals, rather than surveillance tactics like monitoring Teams status or requiring cameras all day.
A comment period opens in Spring 2026 for supervisor feedback on the policy. The automated tracking system goes live Fall 2026, replacing current PDF forms with a formal review process.
Key takeaways
- New policy documents arrangements but doesn't restrict flexible work availability—local leaders still decide what works for their units
- Positions hired as fully remote don't need arrangements; ad hoc flexibility and DRC accommodations also excluded
- Business needs always take precedence and can require removing arrangements with appropriate transition time
- Effective remote management requires regular one-on-ones, clear expectations, and trust—not surveillance
- Be transparent about flexibility from job posting stage to avoid equity concerns and "why them, not me" situations
Action steps
- Review the policy during the comment period and provide feedback
- Complete flexible work training courses in EDGE Learning
- Clarify your college/division's parameters for flexible work if not already established
- Reach out to your HR team before difficult conversations about removing arrangements or performance concerns
- Set clear response time expectations with remote team members if you haven't already
Next Meeting
May 21, 2026