Concerning the implementation of flexible working schedules
RESOLUTION OF THE EMPLOYEE FORUM
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
March 1, 2006
WHEREAS the Mission of the Employee Forum is to address constructively the concerns of Employees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and represent those concerns to University officials, State Legislators, and the citizenry of North Carolina; and
WHEREAS the Chancellor’s Task Force for a Better Workplace reports that increasing the use of “flex time” (alternative working schedules and telecommuting) would be one of the most effective strategies the Administration could take to make the University a better place to work; and
WHEREAS 80% of respondents to the Task Force survey indicated that the use of flex time and telecommuting was “important” or “very important” to them, and 66% indicated that work-from-home opportunities were important or very important; and
WHEREAS the practice of telecommuting is consistent with the State policy on telecommuting; and
WHEREAS Chancellor James Moeser, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Robert Shelton, and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Nancy Suttenfield have all stated their support for flexible work schedules wherever possible; and
WHEREAS the Task Force report indicates that some managers are hesitant to allow flexible schedules, and in Information Technology long-standing telecommuting options were rescinded and refused effective January 1, 2006, to a group of more than 500 employees who had previously enjoyed them; and
WHEREAS the cost of commuting continues to increase in ways that place a financial burden on many Employees who have little or no alternative but to commute significant distances to work;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Employee Forum calls on the Chancellor to:
- Strive to increase the awareness among managers and employees of the need for flex time work options.
- Improve understanding among managers and employees on how to use flex time options effectively.
- Provide training on this issue for supervisors and managers.
- Provide information sessions for employees.
- Create a web site with helpful hints on creating and managing flexible work options.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Forum requests Dr. Dan Reed, Vice Chancellor for IT, to identify and communicate to the Forum the business reasons that State policy cites as just cause for the refusal of flexible work options for UNC’s Information Technology departments.
Signed on behalf of the Employee Forum,
Chair, Ernie Patterson