EIU Human Resources

Temporary Flexible Work Schedule Policy

Eastern Illinois University is committed to helping employees face the demands of child care issues promulgated by COVID-19 and K-12 re-opening/learning plans.  Flexible scheduling can provide employees with increased flexibility with their work schedule while allowing EIU to maintain a progressive productive work environment to meet the work demands during this unprecedented period.

All Eastern Illinois University employees experiencing child care concerns (for their children age 13 or younger and any older children with documentation such as an IEP indicating that they may not be left alone, and enrolled in school), will be considered for alternative work scheduling on a case-by-case basis in situations where creative work schedules can be shown to accomplish both work objectives and personal goals. This policy has a sunset clause of Friday May 7, 2021, with return to normal on-campus work schedule on Monday May 10, 2021.

Guidelines for establishing appropriate flexible schedules are as follows:

• All on-campus offices must be physically open and staffed between operational hours of 8 am – 4:30 pm.
• Saturdays and Sundays may be considered in a flexible schedule, provided no overtime is utilized.
• No more than 10 hours a day can be worked in a flexible work schedule, and overtime shall not be used within Flex time.
• A request for flex schedule with a proposed weekly schedule will be reviewed by Supervisor/Vice President and Human Resources. Upon any possible revisions and approval, individuals are responsible for submitting weekly schedules to their supervisors.
• If a complete work week cannot be accomplished, the employee must report leave time to supplement the non-work hours. All regularly scheduled hours must be accounted for each week and hours cannot be carried over from week to week. An individual’s work week is defined within the respective collective bargaining agreements and, if no collective bargaining agreement is in place, EIU’s Monday – Sunday.
• Each department head is responsible for ensuring the fair and equitable administration of the flexible work policy.
• A flexible schedule may include remote work. Remote work should not comprise the majority of the flexible schedule. The Flexible schedule with some remote work should not be confused with approved Remote Work as defined within the Remote Work Policy.

It is important to reiterate that appropriate staffing must continue for each office/department and completion of work assignments should not be delayed due to a flexible schedule arrangement.  A flexible schedule arrangement can be terminated at any time.

Flexible work arrangements are not appropriate for all employees or positions and this should not be considered a universal employee benefit.  In order for a flexible work schedule to be approved, the employee must have a satisfactory attendance record, meet all performance expectations, and demonstrate the ability to complete tasks and assignments on a timely basis.  The flexible work arrangement must not be disruptive to EIU’s support and delivery standards.