FWA Resources for Employees

Not all positions will be eligible for flexible work due to their highly interactive, student-serving, or employee-serving responsibilities. If your request for an FWA is approved, you and your manager should work together throughout the year to manage your performance and professional development while continuously assessing whether the FWA is still meeting the needs of your position and team.

Performance Management and Training Resources

Visit the UT Learning & Development site to learn more about working in a hybrid environment while building team culture and collaboration.

• Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) Resources
• Hybrid Work Environment
• Remote Work Resources 

Additional self-guided training is available through UTLearn.

• Remote Work Foundations: Learn how to build an effective remote work environment while remaining connected to colleagues.  

Visit the UT Austin Human Resources site to learn more about managing your own performance to meet professional goals.

• Performance Management Overview
• Performance Management for Current Employees

FWA Resources for Employees

• Employee responsibilities if an FWA is established:
  • Maintain a healthy and safe environment at your remote worksite.
  • Do not let non-work-related events and activities interfere with your work.
  • Work with your supervisor to identify measures of productivity.
  • Turn in weekly time reports and any other work hour records your supervisor requests.
  • Get your supervisor’s approval for overtime and state compensatory time before earning it.
  • Get your supervisor’s approval for time off.
• Optional Flexible Work Arrangement Assessment (PDF)
• Optional Flexible Work Arrangement Communication Plan between Manager and Employee (PDF)

FAQs: Requesting an FWA

What is the best way to approach my supervisor about FWAs?

Consider using the Assessing Positions for Flexible Work Arrangements table above to help you structure your conversation with your supervisor. In addition to those questions, be prepared to talk about how an FWA could benefit the department and demonstrate concrete examples of how flexible work would work in your situation.
Specify exactly where you would like to work and/or what hours you would like to work, and when you would like to begin that schedule.

How can I make this proposal as thorough as possible for my supervisor?

You have to prepare – this is an important conversation. You should be prepared to discuss how you will cover vacations, overtime, and work peaks. How can you be contacted if you are working at home? Will you check email or voicemail when you are out of the office? Do you have the equipment you would need to work at home? What about meetings when you are working at home or have the day off? What about staying in touch with the office when you are not physically there?

Avoid talking about how a flexible schedule will let you attend Little League games or improve your bowling score. Focus on how the work will get done. Suggest a six-month trial period to see how it works.

I would like someone to help me with my FWA proposal. Where can I go?

The HealthPoint EAP staff can help you role-play your presentation to your supervisor and offer suggestions on how to present your proposal for an FWA. Strategic Workforce Solutions in Human Resources can answer your questions about policies, laws relevant to work schedules, written expectations, and timesheets.