Work Arrangements

UCOP has evolved to a hybrid organization with on-site, hybrid, and remote workers. Each work arrangement option below includes information on where an employee will work, equipment location, how they will receive operational support, and any impact to travel, compensation, benefits and taxes.

The work arrangement options and process UCOP followed to determine eligibility for work arrangement options is also outlined below.

Work Arrangement Options

For work arrangement options, UCOP “home office” refers to the UCOP location where the position is assigned (e.g., Franklin/Broadway, UCPath Center, etc.), not an individual’s personal home location.

 On-site

  • Workspace: Assigned on-site workspace
  • Equipment: Primary equipment set-up on-site
  • IT Support: ITCS support available on-site
  • Supplies: Available on-site
  • Travel: No changes
  • Compensation: No change, which aligns with UC systemwide guidance
  • Benefits/Taxes: No changes

Hybrid three or more days on-site

  • Workspace: Assigned on-site workspace
  • Equipment: Primary equipment set-up on-site; employee is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure off-site work environment that is ergonomically supportive
  • IT Support: ITCS support available on-site
  • Supplies: Available on-site
  • Travel: Travel reimbursements calculated from UCOP “home office” location; no reimbursements for travel to UCOP “home office” location
  • Compensation: No change, which aligns with UC systemwide guidance
  • Benefits/Taxes: No changes

Hybrid two days on-site

  • Workspace: No assigned on-site workspace; access to on-site hoteling workspace
  • Equipment: Primary equipment set-up at off-site location; employee is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure off-site work environment that is ergonomically supportive
  • IT Support: ITCS support available on-site
  • Supplies: Available on-site
  • Travel: Travel reimbursements calculated from UCOP “home office” location; no reimbursements for travel to UCOP “home office” location
  • Compensation: No change, which aligns with UC systemwide guidance
  • Benefits/Taxes: No changes

Remote within commute

Note – Remote outside California (in U.S.) requires exception approval; remote outside U.S. is not allowed.

  • Workspace: No assigned on-site workspace; access to on-site hoteling workspace
  • Equipment: Primary equipment set-up at off-site location; employee is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure off-site work environment that is ergonomically supportive
  • IT Support: Staff within 50 miles of UCOP “home office” location will be expected to pick up equipment
  • Supplies: Staff can pick up supplies or request shipping of standard package of supplies
  • Travel: UCOP is no longer covering expenses for remote employees to travel to the office. Guidance that temporarily allowed remote employees to be reimbursed for travel to the office was rescinded by Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Nathan Brostrom. Effective March 6, 2023, the university has reverted back to the existing interpretation of the G-28 Travel Regulations policy, which states “Expenses for travel between the traveler's residence and headquarters (commuting expense) shall not be allowed.”
  • Compensation: No change, which aligns with UC systemwide guidance
  • Benefits/Taxes: Benefits availability may be impacted by relocation outside of benefit program area

Remote outside commute

Note – Remote outside California (in U.S.) requires exception approval; remote outside U.S. is not allowed. 

  • Workspace: No assigned on-site workspace; access to on-site hoteling workspace
  • Equipment: Primary equipment set-up at off-site location; employee is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure off-site work environment that is ergonomically supportive
  • IT Support: Staff more than 50 miles of UCOP “home office” location will receive and return equipment using UCOP shipping and packaging materials
  • Supplies: Staff can request shipping of standard package of supplies
  • Travel: UCOP is no longer covering expenses for remote employees to travel to the office. Guidance that temporarily allowed remote employees to be reimbursed for travel to the office was rescinded by Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Nathan Brostrom. Effective March 6, 2023, the university has reverted back to the existing interpretation of the G-28 Travel Regulations policy, which states “Expenses for travel between the traveler's residence and headquarters (commuting expense) shall not be allowed.”
  • Compensation: No change, which aligns with UC systemwide guidance
  • Benefits/Taxes: Benefits availability may be impacted by relocation outside of benefit program area

Position Eligibility Assessment and Employee Preference Processes (2021)

1A. Position eligibility assessment
Managers, chiefs of staff and division leaders will assess positions and identify eligible work arrangement options of on-site, hybrid and/or remote. Assessments take into account the position’s core functions and tasks, how the position’s work is done within the team, and how work location may impact the team and UCOP.
1B. Employee work arrangement discussions with managers and employee preference selection
Managers will meet with individual employees and discuss eligible work arrangement options. Employees will identify their preferred work arrangement within the range of eligible options for their position. Exceptional approval requests discussed during the meeting will be noted and submitted per the exceptional approval process and requirements.
2. HR review across the organization
UCOP HR will review position eligibility assessments for overall consistency across UCOP and across similar units/roles, taking into account differences in operational needs among units.
3. Employee work arrangement finalization
Once UCOP confirms the return to on-site operations date, employees will complete telecommuting agreements for hybrid and remote selections.