New SUNY-Wide Telecommuting Policy

As we continue to prepare for a robust fall opening and welcoming our students back to campus, employees are reminded that the Pilot Statewide Telecommuting Program has expired and all operations are to be conducted on-campus to ensure an in-person and engaging welcome for our students. We greatly appreciate the efforts all offices have made to arrange for a full, in-person return to the workplace. Your extraordinary dedication to serving our campus community is remarkable.

However, we also understand that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the campus to quickly adopt telecommuting programs, where practicable, based upon the nature of the work. As we move forward, there is now SUNY-wide policy that allows for employee telecommuting in limited circumstances. For example, the job duties of some positions may be performed effectively from a telecommuting location, while still maintaining the highest quality of services to our campus community.

To this end, SUNY System Administration has implemented a SUNY-wide Telecommuting Program and developed a policy to support telecommuting where it is reasonable and practicable based on the campus mission, operational and programmatic needs. The policy establishes system-wide uniform parameters and guidelines regarding employee and campus expectations for Telecommuting. Each employee application will be considered on an individual basis.  

The entire SUNY Telecommuting Policy, Telecommuting Program Application and Work Plan, and Telecommuting Program Biweekly Progress Report may all be found online.

Outlined below are a few key points:

• Any employee approved for telecommuting cannot solely telecommute; any approved telecommuting is limited to a maximum of 5 days per pay period.
• Applications may be submitted at any time; there is no specific application period.
• Levels of required approvals include: 1. Immediate Supervisor, 2. Department/Division Leader, 3. Area Leader or Respective Vice President (or designee)
• The SUNY-wide Telecommuting Program is a pilot program that will expire on December 31, 2021, unless extended by SUNY.
• Any employee who is approved under this policy will be required to submit a Telecommuting Program Biweekly Progress Report to their immediate supervisor.
• Telecommuting arrangements must ensure operational needs are met and any approval is management discretion.

To apply for Telecommuting under this policy, please complete the Telecommuting Program Application and Work Plan and follow the routing instructions contained within the document. Supervisors should refer to the Telecommuting Policy for helpful guidelines to consider when evaluating requests.

Any complete applications should be submitted to Human Resources via email at hr@oswego.edu.

If you have any questions, please email hr@oswego.edu or call 315-312-2230. Please visit the HR webpage for the most updated information from the Human Resources and Payroll offices.

Sincerely,

Amy Plotner
Assistant Vice President of Human Resources

Date Posted: 8/12/2021