The University of Iowa will extend the current Future of Work pilot phase to June 30, 2022, to allow more data and feedback about current hybrid, remote, and flexible work arrangements to be collected and reported.
UI originally set the pilot phase to end on Dec. 31, with a final report due on March 31, 2022. Extending the pilot provides a bridge between current work arrangements and decisions that might be made based on the final report.
Extending the pilot makes sense for campus, says Cheryl Reardon, associate vice president and chief human resources officer.
“The recruitment and retention of employees is a significant factor right now,” Reardon says. “With low unemployment rates in the region, employees are in high demand and many employers are offering high salaries and flexibility in work schedules. To remain competitive, we also need to allow for flexibility.”
In addition, Reardon says, the campus and the community still are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Allowing workplace flexibility supports employee well-being and helps employees support pressures many employees are facing, such as child care, K–12 quarantine protocols, and caring for sick family members.
Process for extending work arrangements
Future of Work preliminary report
Read about preliminary findings from the FOW first pilot phase, which is underway and runs through Dec. 31.
The university will follow this process for extending or revising current work arrangements.
- Supervisors will connect with employees to discuss and review their current work arrangement.
- Supervisors, in consultation with senior HR leaders, may then recommend changes or modifications to the current work arrangements or recommend they remain the same.
- Deans and vice presidents will review the work arrangements for their colleges and units.
- If changes are made, employees will be provided a minimum 30-day notice.
If no changes are made to the current work arrangement, the current form in Employee Self-service will be automatically updated with a June 30, 2022, end date.
If changes or modifications are made, a new work arrangement form will need to be completed and approved by Jan. 28, 2022.
All outside of Iowa work arrangements will require a new form submitted in self-service.
Additional information about the Future of Work initiative can be found on the UHR website.