Administration: Remote Work Policy

The University of Wisconsin–Madison and the MWSoM recognize the value of providing flexibility to its employees. Flexibility can increase job satisfaction and reduce turnover, increase the university’s ability to attract and retain talent, and maintain or enhance productivity for some roles. Remote work arrangements are one tool for providing this flexibility. This policy is specific to the Mead Witter School of Music.

Employees may request to work remotely for up to two days per work week on a regular basis by filling out the Remote Work Request Form (see below). New employees are typically eligible to request a remote work agreement after 90 days of employment. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Remote work days cannot include two days adjacent to the weekend (i.e., Thursday/Friday, Friday/Monday or Monday/Tuesday).

Requests for remote work must follow the fiscal year calendar. Therefore, all requests should reflect and end date of June 30, 20XX. 

Campus has outlined the following factors to be weighed in considering a remote work arrangement: 

  • Job responsibilities (e.g., jobs that require physical presence for effective performance are not suitable for remote work);
  • The effective functioning of the overall unit (e.g., trainees may need in-person assistance; flow of information may be shared more quickly among those physically present; etc.);
  • Potential cost savings to the university, school/college/division, and department;
  • The needs and preferences of the employee;
  • Employee performance;
  • Equipment needs, workspace design considerations, office space, and scheduling issues
  • Adverse impact between employees with similar job responsibilities in the work unit (prevent inequities).

If the request is approved, the employee will enter into a Remote Work Agreement that details the terms, including the employee’s work schedule (including when they are expected to be present for onsite activities), necessary equipment and services, guidelines for maintaining communication and work engagement, onsite and remote locations, and other details as appropriate.

Remote Work Agreements will be revisited annually (July 1- June 30) and can be modified or canceled by the School of Music at any time. 

Employees are expected to attend department, committee and other important meetings in person regardless of the day on which they fall.

All employees may request occasional remote work (“workplace flexibility”) through their supervisors with at least 24 hours advance notice.

It is an expectation of working remotely that an employee is reachable by phone during your regular work hours. 

Using university computers that are supported by L&S IT Services is strongly recommended for day-to-day departmental work. Ideally, personal computers should only be used to remote into your work machine or in situations where that is not possible (e.g., you need to video conference from a home machine). In cases where you must use a personal machine, you should always use VPN and be running antivirus when doing any type of University-related work. In addition, work files must not be saved on a personal computer; Music’s shared drive is the best place for saving files (contact the L&S IT Services if you need assistance mapping that drive on your work computer.) If you need to use your personal computer for work, please follow the recommendation on this page (NetID login required) to secure your computer and data it accesses: Using a Personal Computer for Work

Please follow the directions on this KB to access the Remote Work Agreement, also listed below:

step by step directions for remote work agreement



Keywords:
remote, work from home, days off, workplace flexibility 
Doc ID:
122619
Owned by:
Anne B. in Mead Witter School of Music
Created:
2022-11-23
Updated:
2026-08-31
Sites:
Mead Witter School of Music