The use of remote work will enable departments to continue functioning through hazardous weather, pandemic, physical attacks, or any other event that would result in the closure of campus or campus buildings. 

Incorporating remote work into continuity plans means that these plans identify ways that a department’s staff perform the duties and responsibilities necessary to continue the department’s essential functions during any type of threat or emergency from an approved worksite other than the location from which the employee would otherwise work. 

There is a direct relationship between continuity planning and remote work. They share a basic objective: to perform and maintain department functions from an alternate location. Remote work can help ensure that essential University functions continue during emergency situations. 

Employee Responsibilities

Employees who may be required to work under their department’s remote work policy have an important role in emergency planning procedures. Those responsibilities may include:

  • Maintaining a current remote work agreement detailing any emergency remote work responsibilities specified for a continuity and/or pandemic event, as appropriate.
  • Practicing remote work regularly to ensure effectiveness.
  • Becoming familiar with the department’s emergency plans (continuity plan, pandemic plan, etc.) and your manager's expectations for how you will work remotely during such events.

Manager Responsibilities

Understand the department’s emergency plans (continuity plan, pandemic plan, etc.) and management roles in executing the plan.

  • Implement remote work to the greatest extent possible so systems are ready to support successful remote in an emergency.
  • Notify employees designated as emergency personnel for a continuity or pandemic event. 
  • Communicate expectations to both emergency and non-emergency employees regarding their roles and responsibilities in an emergency.
  • Establish communication processes to notify emergency employees and non-emergency employees of the activation of the department’s emergency plan and the department operating status during the emergency.
  • Integrate emergency expectations into remote work agreements as appropriate. 
  • Determine how employees who work remotely will communicate with one another and with management to accomplish work.
  • Determine how you will maintain time and attendance.
  • Allow personnel who might work remotely in case of an emergency to regularly work remotely to ensure functionality.