Request Process

In order to be considered for a Flexible Work Arrangement, you must submit a request through the Remote Work Request Form.  Your request will require your manager, as well as your Dean, Vice President, or their designee, to review and approve your request.  In addition, if your remote work location is outside of Massachusetts, the Vice President for Human Resources must also review and approve your request. 

Hybrid and Fully Remote Work Arrangements – Requests and Approvals

To request a hybrid or fully remote work arrangement, a staff member must submit an online Remote Work Request Form. Managers may also require that staff members provide additional information relevant to the staff member’s position, job duties, or the needs of the department. 

A hybrid or fully remote work arrangement must be approved by the staff member’s manager and the appropriate dean or vice president (or a designee of the dean or vice president). If the staff member’s remote work location is outside Massachusetts, the arrangement must also be approved by the vice president for human resources, as described in Section 12 below.

A hybrid or fully remote work arrangement may not begin until a Remote Work Request Form is complete, with all required approvals. The staff member will complete the form which will be automatically routed to their manager for additional information and first-level approval. The form will then be routed to the appropriate dean, vice president, or designee (and for out-of-state work, the vice president for human resources) for additional approval. The completed document will be returned to the staff member and manager.

How to Submit a Remote Work Approval Form:

1. Please visit the Remote Work Request Form. This link will bring you to a Kerberos protected page.

• • This online application is only supported by the certain browsers.
  • If you do not have access to the form after entering your Kerberos username and password, please contact the HR Service Center at HR@bu.edu.

2. The Header (top of the form) will be auto-populated with your personal information, including
   • BUID
   • Last Name
   • First Name
   • Email Address
   • Job Title
   • Manager Name
   • Manager Email

3. Prior Agreements Section
   You must indicate whether your flexible work request was an existing and approved flexible work arrangement prior to March 2020 or whether this is a new flexible work request.

   This section must be completed in order to SUBMIT the form.

3. Requested Work Schedule Section
   You must indicate your preference for each day of the week by selecting from one of the following options:
   • On campus
   • Remote Work in MA 
   • Remote Work Outside MA 
   • Not Scheduled to Work

Number of Remote Work Days
The request form will automatically calculate the number of remote work days you are requesting.

Requested Start Date
Please also enter your Requested Start Date. You cannot enter a start date prior to the day you complete the request.

Additional Details You Wish to Share
If there are any additional details that you wish to share with your manager and Dean, Vice President or their Designee regarding your request, please enter them in the text box.

7. Address Section
   You are required to verify your permanent address, as well as your remote work address.
   • If your permanent address is incorrect, please visit MyBUworks to update your address.  The new address will update within 24 hours. Please do not proceed with the application until the application reflects your newly entered permanent address.
   • If your remote work address is the same as your permanent address, you should check the box indicating that in the upper left corner. Your permanent address will copy into the remote work address.
   • If you are requesting to work remotely out of state on any days, the remote work address MUST be the out of state address where you will work.
   • If your remote work address will differ from your permanent address, please enter your remote address under the Remote Address section.
   • If your remote work address will vary, please use the free text box in the Requested Work Schedule Section to enter any additional details.

8. Final Section
   You must date and sign the form, acknowledging you understand that your Flexible Work Arrangement is governed by the Flexible Work Guidelines. Please be sure that you have read and understand the Guidelines before submitting your request.

IMPORTANT: It may take a few moments for the form submission to complete. Please be patient. Do not leave the screen or press the button again.

Confirmation of Receipt and Notification of Approval

1. Confirmation of Receipt of Your Request
   Once you have successfully submitted your request, you will receive an automated email from HR@bu.edu confirming receipt of your request.
2. Automated Notification if Request was Approved or Denied
   Following review of your request by your manager, Dean, Vice President or their Designees, and, if required, the Vice President of Human Resources, you will receive an automated email from HR@bu.edu stating whether your request was approved, approved with changes, approved for a trial period or denied. If your request was approved, a PDF listing the details for your Flexible Work Agreement will be attached to your Arrangement.  Please be sure to review the PDF of your Arrangement, as your approvers may have updated your requested schedule or entered additional considerations, such as seasonal restrictions, to your arrangement.

Modified Work Schedules – Requests and Approvals

To request a modified work schedule, a staff member must submit a written request to their manager identifying the proposed schedule. Staff should discuss modified work schedules with their managers before making requests. 

A modified work schedule must be approved in writing by the staff member’s manager. If the staff member’s regular or remote work location is outside of Massachusetts, the manager must also obtain the approval of the vice president for human resources before allowing a modified work schedule.

If a modified work schedule changes the number of hours a staff member works per day (e.g., a compressed work schedule of four ten-hour days), the manager must ensure that the work schedule is entered into SAP through an Employee Position Update by the department’s payroll coordinator. Further detail on entering the modified work schedule into SAP is available in the “Updates During Employment” section on the HR Systems website.