Statewide Telework Policy

Dear Colleagues,

On May 5, 2022, the Office of the Governor for the Commonwealth of Virginia issued a communication to all state agencies including public institutions of higher education regarding a statewide telework policy. The purpose of the communication was to announce the Governor's goal "to deliver best-in-class government services across all agencies" and embark "on a new path that values innovation, teamwork, and in-person communication.

Policy Highlights

The State telework policy, Policy 1.61 Teleworking applies to classified employees at this time. This policy will supersede University Telework Policy 6202. Moreover, the current telework agreement form will be replaced with a new Standard Telework Agreement.

Under the State policy, telework agreements would require approvals from:

Agency Head: Where one day a week is requested as a telework day; Temporary telework, no more than two weeks, for temporary circumstances such as family illness, school closing, weather advisories, etc.
Cabinet Secretary: Where two days a week are requested as telework days.
Governor's Chief of Staff: Where more than two days a week are requested as telework days.

Action Steps

Employees that do not have an approved Standard Telework Agreement on file are expected to physically report to the office for regular employment hours.

Supervisors who would like to request telework for their employee(s) should complete the new electronic Standard Telework Agreement. Upon completion of the request by the supervisor, the agreement will be evaluated by the appropriate Vice President, the ODU Department of Human Resources, and the President.

President Hemphill supports telework that can be approved at the agency level for those positions that are conducive to teleworking and do not impede the ability to provide a high standard of service to our students and other members of the Monarch community. The University will only submit agreements to the Governor's Cabinet Secretary and Chief of Staff for two or more days a week in rare and exceptional circumstances. (Examples include documented conditions of employment at the time of hire and reasonable accommodations approved under ADA).