Leaders update: Remote office setup and return-to-campus planning
As a follow-up to the communication from the Office of the President, we are providing an update on remote work arrangements and return-to-campus planning.
As the President noted, while the majority of work has shifted to remote, some essential employees are still providing necessary services on campus. The plans and resources we will be providing are designed to support our university to move forward in a gradual way that prioritizes the health and safety of our community.
Guidelines for remote office setup
We are encouraging you to connect with your teams on how they are balancing work and time off, dependent care where applicable, their overall wellbeing and their remote work setup.
As remote work will now continue until at least September, Human Resources (HR) has developed guidelines for leaders to work with employees to ensure an appropriate workspace setup at home. Please review the (google doc) Remote Office Setup Guidelines (external link) .
The guidelines outline:
- protocol for retrieving equipment from campus,
- purchasing office supplies,
- accommodation,
- information on assessing ergonomic needs.
It is important that all requests are reviewed in a consistent and equitable manner. They should also take into account financial considerations to determine the best option, while still considering individual needs and situations.
These guidelines will be shared with employees via an email from HR and Facilities Management and Development (Facilities) on Wednesday, June 17, so we encourage you to review them and consult with your leadership on a department-wide approach where possible.
Preparing for return to campus
While many essential services employees continue to provide necessary and valuable support on campus, HR and Facilities continue planning for a gradual increase of employees returning to campus and preparing our workspaces. We will share resources with you before the end of this month, including information about:
- sanitation of spaces
- health screening and hygiene
- physical distancing protocol, including stickers and posters
- personal protective equipment
We will also provide specific leader materials on:
- prioritizing who returns to campus
- assessing how to minimize risk through possible process change
- supporting employee concerns
These resources will allow HR and FMD to support our campus in strategic and streamlined return-to-campus planning.
Questions?
If you have immediate questions about preparing your workspace, please contact the Facilities Help Desk at fixit@torontomu.ca or 416-979-5091. If you have any questions about managing your teams, please contact your HR partner.
Thank you to everyone for your continued patience and commitment to continuing the work of Ryerson University.