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Remote Work and Remote Working Agreements 4-31.2

School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Regulation 4-31.2

PERSONNEL

Remote Work and Remote Working Agreements

The School Division recognizes that in certain circumstances it is practical and efficient to allow authorized employees to work from an alternate work location. Authorization for remote work is granted at the School Division's sole discretion. Approved remote working is appropriately provided to assure the goals and mission of the School Division are accomplished in a productive, thoughtful, and economical manner and is not provided solely for employees' convenience. Authorization for an employee to work remotely is at the discretion of the applicable chief officer, with a Remote Work Agreement provided to the Department of Human Resources. The following procedures outline the circumstances under which remote work arrangements may be made:

  1. Definitions
    1. Alternate or Remote Work Location: A space not owned or leased by the School Division.
    2. Assigned Worksite: The location where an employee typically works.
    3. Remote Work: The performance of the essential functions of an employee’s job description in an alternate work location.
    4. Remote Worker: An employee who has an active remote working agreement on file and works remotely on a consistent schedule.
    5. Limited Remote Work: A nonrecurring situation which typically exceeds five (5) days but is of no more than two (2) pay periods in duration in which an employee may work remotely due to extraordinary personal or work circumstances that will benefit the operations of the School Division. This type of remote work still requires an agreement to be submitted to Human Resources for documentation purposes.
    6. Episodic Remote Work: A situation in which an employee works remotely less than once per week. Remote work is on a sporadic or task-driven basis.
    7. Hybrid Remote Work: A situation in which an employee consistently works remotely at least one day a week per a set schedule.
    8. Schools in session: Indicates any day that students are scheduled to be in class, other than during summer school.
  2. Eligibility
    1. Except in extraordinary circumstances, an employee must have received, at minimum, a “proficient” in all standards on the employee’s last performance evaluation and have completed the probationary period.
    2. The employee must have a work history that demonstrates efficient work without close supervision.
    3. The employee must be computer literate, have an available and suitable designated workspace at the offsite location, and have access to any computer and telecommunications equipment necessary for the completion of tasks.
    4. By the nature of their positions, the following types of employees may not normally be eligible for an ongoing remote work agreement:
      1. School-based employees when schools are in session and students are physically present.
      2. Supervisory instructional employees when schools are in session and students are physically present.
      3. Employees who are non-exempt and eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
      4. Employees whose physical presence at the assigned worksite is essential to the performance of their duties.

      Principals must still approve teachers working remotely when a teacher workday has been designated as eligible for remote working by the Superintendent. The above-listed eligibility factors do not apply in this context.

  3. Alternate work location
    1. An alternate work location must be clearly communicated and approved prior to use.
    2. The remote work location must be within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Working in a location outside of Virginia is prohibited.
    3. The alternate work location must be free of distractions, and the remote worker must be accessible by email, virtual meeting platforms, and/or phone during work hours.
    4. The employee must contact their supervisor immediately if an emergency occurs at the alternate work location that prohibits the employee from performing their job duties, including a phone or internet outage. The employee will be expected to report to the worksite in such cases.
    5. Work-related injuries that occur in the alternate work location must be reported to the supervisor and require adherence to workers’ compensation reporting procedures.
    6. If there is reason to believe that unsafe conditions exist at the alternate work location, or if workers’ compensation claim(s) are filed by the remote worker, the School Division reserves the right to inspect the alternate work location by giving the employee notice.
    7. Unless authorized to meet specific circumstances, all costs incurred by a remote worker to arrange an alternate worksite and to work remotely are the employee's responsibility and will not be reimbursed (e.g., telephone charges; internet service; home office equipment, furniture, and software).
    8. School Division-owned software may be installed on an employee-owned computer, subject to license agreements, and if no longer deemed necessary by the supervisor to the remote worker's work assignment, must be removed upon termination of the remote work arrangement. School Division owned software should not be used for personal reasons.
    9. Employees who have been approved to work remotely must obtain permission from their supervisor to use School Division equipment in a remote location and will be responsible for maintaining and protecting the equipment on loan. Equipment on loan shall be used for work-related purposes only and its use is governed by acceptable use policies. Employees must immediately report any School Division equipment that is damaged, compromised, or lost.
    10. If a remote worker is authorized to use personal equipment, the School Division will not assume responsibility for the cost of equipment, repair, or service. The employee must be in compliance with all Department of Technology requirements.
    11. Employees are responsible for protecting all data and ensuring compliance with all regulations regarding confidentiality of materials.
  4. Circumstances that may warrant episodic or limited remote working by employees

    An employee may be authorized to work from an alternate work location:

    1. When the employee would otherwise be required to report to work during a weather-related or other school closing.
    2. When schools are closed for the summer break, the employee may periodically be authorized to work remotely on an agreed-upon schedule if the employee is not assigned summer school responsibilities.
    3. To complete special project work that requires minimal interruptions.
    4. When a schedule for remote work cannot be established due to the nature of the position.
    5. During unusual circumstances such as construction, an accident, pandemic*, weather-related, or natural disaster that makes the primary worksite inaccessible/uninhabitable.
    6. On a teacher workday when students are not in school and which has been designated as eligible for remote working by the Superintendent.
    7. Due to unique and unusual circumstances as determined by the Superintendent or designee.
  5. Guidelines for remote working
    1. Working remotely is not an entitlement; rather, it is a job assignment for employees to complete their assigned duties and responsibilities from a location other than the assigned worksite.
    2. Remote Work Agreements must be reviewed and resubmitted for approval annually, at minimum.
    3. Remote work may not be used in lieu of taking personal leave, sick leave or annual leave. However, with approval of the Chief Officer, an administrator may determine whether it is appropriate to offer remote work as an opportunity for temporary, partial, or full return-to-work from illness/injury or for disability accommodations. The department must contact the Office of Employee Relations whenever disability accommodations are being considered.
    4. Working remotely is not a substitute for dependent care. While performing work duties remotely, employees are expected to have dependent care arrangements in place, and proof of dependent care may be requested. However, there may be unplanned, unusual, or temporary circumstances (e.g., an unscheduled remote workday in which schools are closed) when remote work may be an appropriate short-term workplace flexibility for employees with caregiving responsibilities. These short-term temporary circumstances should represent the exception and not the rule.
    5. Remote work assignments do not change the conditions of employment, contract/work hours, compensation, or benefits. Employees approved for remote working must comply with all School Division policies and procedures and meet all evaluation performance standards. While presenting from a remote location, apparel, background settings, language, etc., should adhere to normal classroom/work locations and division standards.
    6. An employee’s performance when remote working will be monitored in the same manner as employees at an assigned worksite. The performance standards should be based on a results-oriented approach and should describe the quantity and quality of expected work products and the method of evaluation.
    7. During the employee’s normal working hours, the employee must be available to communicate with the employee’s supervisor and other work-related contacts and perform assigned tasks.
    8. In person attendance at the employee’s assigned worksite for on-site meetings, conferences, training sessions, and other activities may be required at the sole discretion of the supervisor. Transportation for such attendance is the employee's responsibility.
    9. Supervisors are required to ensure the work hours of non-exempt employees are documented in compliance with School Division standards and the FLSA. A weekly log of duties performed while working remotely may be required by the supervisor.
    10. During emergency closings or similar circumstances, supervisors will communicate with those employees eligible to work remotely the expectations for continuing work during emergency closings or circumstances.
  6. Procedure for requesting the opportunity to remote work
    1. Prior to submitting a Remote Work Agreement, the position's eligibility for remote work and an employee's candidacy to participate in remote work should be evaluated by the supervisor and approved by the Chief Officer using the VBCPS Remote Work Questionnaire. The questionnaire will be forwarded to the Department of Human Resource for review. Human Resources may ask for further clarification prior to providing the requesting department a Remote Work Agreement for completion.
    2. Authorization for limited remote work (less than two pay periods) is at the discretion of the Chief Officer, with a Remote Work Agreement provided to the Office of Employee Relations in the Department of Human Resources for tracking and documentation purposes. Note: For limited remote work due to public health emergencies (under Regulation 4-45.5), the remote work should not exceed the 10-14 days required to quarantine.
    3. A Remote Work Agreement, signed by the employee and approved by the supervisor and Chief Officer must be submitted to the Department of Human Resources indicating whether the request is for limited, episodic, hybrid, or full-time remote work.
    4. The Chief Officer approving the remote work agreement is responsible for compliance with the requirements contained in this regulation and outlined in the Remote Work Agreement as well as ensuring remote work is treated consistently and equitably within their department.
    5. The School Division may terminate the remote work agreement for any reason at its discretion at any time and without advance notice.
    6. If an employee is to work remotely due as an accommodation for medical or disability reasons, the supervisor will consult with the Office of Employee Relations in the Department of Human Resources prior to initiating the request and before terminating the remote work arrangement.
    7. There are no grievance or appeal rights regarding denial of remote work requests.
    8. All Remote Work Agreements are maintained in the employee’s personnel file.

Regulation 4-45.1
Regulation 4-45.4
Regulation 4-87.2

Approved by Superintendent: July 28, 2020
Revised by Superintendent: July 14, 2021
Revised by Superintendent: November 3, 2021
Revised by Superintendent: August 31, 2022
Amended by Superintendent: June 30, 2023