As previously communicated, the telecommuting agreements between SUNY and the various campus unions for state employees expire on July 2, 2021. The Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) outlined that all state agency employees should resume in person work full-time next week. However, to provide a gradual return and adjustment to work on campus, SUNY Oneonta has extended the date for the full return to in-person work to Aug. 5, 2021.
Supervisors have submitted plans outlining incremental return schedules for each employee telecommuting this summer, expecting that all are working on campus at least three to four days per week by the end of July, and are back on campus full-time beginning Aug. 5.
Last week, recognizing that a full return to the worksite in July or August may be a hardship for some employees, GOER advised that campuses may continue to operate under the Pilot Statewide Telecommuting Programs for employees whose situation falls within limited circumstances until Sept. 7, 2021. Those circumstances include:
- Reasonable accommodations under the ADA and Human Rights laws.
- COVID-19 specific accommodations for issues such as childcare and elder care.
Employees who believe they meet one of the above circumstances and need to continue telecommuting between Aug. 5 and Sept. 7, must submit a new COVID-ADA application for review and approval. Telecommuting may not continue beyond Aug. 5 without a new, approved application in place.