Over the past several months, representatives from across Brock University have been coming together to discuss and draft guidelines for flexible work arrangements moving forward.

While Brock is working toward a significant return to campus for the fall, the past 15 months of remote work for many faculty and staff have allowed the University to consider how these sorts of work environments may factor into the future design of work at Brock and how they may be used to generate higher job satisfaction, create better access, improve productivity and aid recruitment and retention efforts.

As consultations took place around this draft Work-From-Home Guideline, it was clear that, like at many organizations, there is support for a flexible work environment.

After feedback from multiple focus group sessions and more than 600 people in a survey, the finalized Work-From-Home Guideline and associated forms are now available on the Human Resources Sharepoint site.

This guideline does not apply to employees represented by BUFA, CUPE 1295, CUPE 4207-1 or CUPE 4207-3, and is being introduced on a one-year trial basis.

This will allow the University to gauge the program’s success and efficacy. The longer-term goal is to establish a policy and program that will allow for more permanent flexible work arrangements that recognize the changing nature of work and will ensure Brock remains an employer of choice in the Niagara region.

Additional feedback from the community will be requested over the coming year.

Anyone interested in working from home on a part- or full-time basis should review the guideline, discuss the idea with their supervisor and then complete the Work-From-Home request form found on the HR Sharepoint site here.