Remote work approvals

Decisions for remote work arrangements are made within each of the Major Administrative Units (MAUs). To ensure alignment in policy and practices, departments/centers/institutes should first communicate with MAU leadership before moving forward with any workplace decisions. MAUs have the flexibility to determine how their teams work best (in-person or remote), keeping service level needs, equity, and individual circumstances in mind.

  • Remote Work Arrangements can improve the quality of the workplace experience, contributing to creating an inclusive campus that can serve both the community and the employee. Flexibility is also a key driver of employee satisfaction and can be a recruiting and retention opportunity.
  • Deans, VPs, and MAU leaders should make plans to balance work needs as a residential, Tier-1 research institution with the employee perspective. Considerations should also include providing an excellent on-premises experience for students, University business need during modified operations, and business continuity/disaster recovery requirements.
  • Leaders are accountable for equity across their teams, offices, and departments. Internal processes and decisions should be communicated to employees promptly.
  • As much as possible, and while meeting unit objectives and mission, employees who perform work best done on-site should perform that work at an official MSU worksite. It is vital to consider flexibility when assessing the work to be done and offer options for remote work to recruit and retain employees across our community.
  • All administrators, supervisors, and employees will be inclusive, collaborative, and respectful in working through these decisions.
  • Because of risks to the institution, all out-of-state work arrangements, including international work, will require approval by the Dean, VP, or MAU leader (authorized signatory), which can be completed by attaching the Remote Work Agreement Outside Michigan - Additional Approval .

Up Next: Understanding the Remote Work Agreement