Reminder: One-Day-A-Week Telework Requests Due Today at 5 p.m.

As you know, DHRM Policy 1.61 on teleworking represents a shift from and supersedes prior NOVA policy and practice on telework, and I thank all of you for your engagement and patience as we move through this new process.

In response to your requests, on June 23, I re-opened the application window for one-day-a-week telework. It will close at 5 p.m. today, and decisions will be sent by 5 p.m. tomorrow, July 1. I encourage all employees who qualify for application to work closely with their supervisors and submit their agreements by the deadline.

The criteria for one-day-a-week telework are unchanged. NOVA will consider agreements for one-day-a-week telework submitted by classified staff, professional faculty and administrative faculty who hold positions that, based on their EWPs on file within Human Resources:

• have supervisory responsibilities for a division, office, project or initiative that consists exclusively of remote operations, offers exclusively online/remote services to students and/or employees and includes no employees with on-site responsibilities; OR
• have no supervisory responsibilities and provide in-person direct services to students and/or other employees for less than 30% of their job responsibilities; OR
• have no supervisory responsibilities and rely on regular interaction with other NOVA employees to complete less than 30% of their job responsibilities.

Employees should review their EWPs with their supervisors to ensure that these position descriptions are up-to-date and clearly identify the position’s job responsibilities and telework eligibility.

Supervisors must also complete a review and approval form. The form follows the supervisory responsibilities outlined in DHRM Policy 1.61. In approving telework agreements, supervisors must ensure consistent and effective delivery of onsite services and team collaboration by managing and balancing the selected telework days of their teams.

In keeping with the requirements of DHRM Policy 1.61 and longstanding NOVA practice, telework agreements will be reviewed on a regular basis. Agreements may be suspended, including temporarily, if they no longer support college operations and/or needed services for our students and colleagues. NOVA will provide at least two weeks’ notice to employees in good standing whose teleworking agreements must be suspended.

Again, thank you for your understanding and patience as NOVA transitions to the Commonwealth’s updated telework policy. I know that this change is significant and has posed challenges for some of you. I appreciate all that you do to support our students and each other and am grateful for your commitment to NOVA. I will still act on all one day a week telework requests by 5 pm on July 1.

Reprinted from Dr. Kress’ June 28 Tuesday Topics