Johnson School
Cornell University

Flexibility in the Workplace (Flexplace Policy)
(This is different from the School's Work at Home Policy)

Cornell's Flexplace Policy is available at http://policy.cornell.edu/vol6_6_13.cfm. FLEXPLACE is an arrangement between staff and Cornell regarding conducting work in an off-site work setting for a specified period of time and is not intended to be used as a substitute for ongoing childcare or elder care. Participation in Flexplace is at the discretion of the management, and may be terminated by either the faculty or staff member, or Cornell, with or without cause, upon reasonable notice thereof. Such reasonable notice may require, on the part of either party, time necessary for phasing out of the Flexplace setting and/or phasing back into the on-site workplace. This set of expectations is not a contract of employment and may not be construed as such.

In assessing the policy, the following applies:

Either a staff member or a Supervisor may recognize the need for Flexplace; and either one may introduce the option. Once presented, it is up to the Supervisor to discuss with the School's Director of Human Resources to determine whether Flexplace is appropriate and, if so, to arrange it. Determining whether Flexplace is appropriate:

• consider the position (does the work lend itself to such an arrangement);
• can results/productivity be measured effectively without regular supervision;
• can present level of customer service be maintained;
• how will the arrangement affect cross-training initiatives, team-based strategies; and how will it affect the unit's morale; and
• consider the staff member (does he/she have time management skills and a demonstrated history of satisfactory, independent work performance).

Management's Responsibilities:

1. Review work and progress regularly; provide effective and supportive feedback.
2. Ensure that all arrangements conform to the provisions of the FLSA (record keeping, meal breaks, etc.).

To implement, the University offers a procedure outline and requires completion of a Flexplace Expectations Form. The latter lays out specific details of a Flexplace arrangement and should include such things as:

• Work schedule, including the start and end dates of the arrangement;
• List of equipment provided;
• Responsibility for repairs and/or replacement, if applicable;
• Additional phone lines, electronic communications resources, special furniture, supplies, etc., if applicable;
• Frequency and scheduling of on-site visits to review work and progress;
• Method and criteria regarding performance evaluations;
• Other responsibilities unique to the specific arrangement; and
• Description of care-giving arrangements when applicable.

Other conditions include:

A separate work area must be designated in the off-site setting for Flexplace. This area must be maintained in a safe condition (see the Flexplace Safety Checklist and the Work Space Checklist). Equipment provided by Cornell is limited to the purposes of Flexplace and is not intended for the staff member's personal use; the decision to remove or discontinue use of resources provided rests entirely with Cornell. And finally, if the Flexplace arrangement becomes unfeasible, it may be discontinued at the discretion of either the staff member or Cornell, with reasonable notice.

To access the forms necessary to initiate the Policy, please visit http://policy.cornell.edu/vol6_6_13.cfm.

For additional information on Off-Site Internet Access, please see: Internet Access, Off-Site, aka Cable Modem Policy.

Last Modified: March 25, 2003