A Remote Work Arrangement (RWA) is an agreement between an NC employee and their manager for the employee to complete the duties of their position, in part, remotely.

The Remote Work Policy was approved by the Executive Team and Board of Governors in May 2022. It defines accepted practices and responsibilities for employees who request a RWA and who NC authorizes to work in an RWA. This policy is intended to ensure consistent application across the College and ensure that employees participating in a RWA continue to provide a level of service equal to a conventional work arrangement.

While all employee groups are eligible, there are clear and consistent criteria that managers will use when considering remote work requests. The operational needs of the department and the College are key, and the duties related to the role and the individual must be suitable for remote work. Managers will also consider equipment and technology requirements, and all departmental needs, including on campus activities, meetings, projects and other competing considerations.

Accommodations are used to address very specific employee needs, such as non-typical family care needs, religious matters, etc.

Remote work arrangements only apply to employee request on personal preferences and should not be used to address accommodation needs.

For accommodation needs, please contact your HR Consultant.

Throughout the pandemic, Niagara College has adjusted its operations based on COVID trends and provincial and local public health guidance and direction. Given current trends and the easing of public health restrictions, Niagara College will increase on-campus learning and services this Fall and on-campus work will become the default working arrangement for all employees.  NC is a place based organization that strives to provide the greatest student experience possible, and our employees are a major contributor to that experience.  Additionally, in-person, on-campus work contributes to our organizational culture and allows us to collaborate, engage and innovate with one another.

Not at this time. The College has launched a policy that includes remote work only.  Other options and types of flexible work may be introduced in the future.

No. Initially, Remote Work Arrangements will be approved on a term-by-term basis, and the maximum amount of remote work permitted at this time is 50% over the course of the term.

The policy allows for up to 50 per cent of an employee’s time to be spent working remotely, per academic term.

No. College employees are not legally eligible to work outside of Ontario. There are legal implications under health and safety, employment standards and tax legislation. Benefit coverage is also jeopardized. An employee may legally be able to work outside of the province for a short periods of time. For more information, contact your Human Resources Consultant.

No, this policy is not intended for faculty members to request an alternate mode of course delivery. It is also not intended to alter any existing terms and conditions of employment as set out in the collective agreement for faculty members relating to work schedules or SWFs.

Remote work arrangements, on their own, will not impact compensation.

It is up to an employee to review the parking options available (i.e. daily paid or permit) to decide what best suits their needs for time on campus. There will be no changes to the current parking options.

If the College closes as a result of a weather event, an employee who is scheduled to work on campus, and whose work cannot be completed remotely, will be paid for the day but will not be expected to work.

All employees who are able to perform their work remotely will be expected to work from home during incidents of inclement weather. Employees are reminded to bring home any necessary equipment (such as a laptop) if inclement weather is expected.

Employees should consult their managers if they are symptomatic but feel well enough to work remotely (assuming their duties can be performed remotely) on a day that is outside of their Remote Work Arrangement. A reminder that employees are eligible to use sick time when they unable to work due to illness.

No. According to current CRA regulations, a T2200 is provided in cases where employees are mandated to work remotely. Employees who request remote work arrangements are opting to work from home and, as such, are not eligible for a T2200. If you have any questions about the tax implications of partially remote work, it is advisable to consult with a tax professional.

Employees can request remote work arrangements which are at the sole discretion of their manager to approve. The policy allows for up to 50 per cent of an employee’s time to be spent working remotely, per academic term.

Yes, all employees, including student employees, may request remote work arrangements for their manager’s consideration. Approval is contingent upon operational needs.

You can find it on the College’s policy website at this link: niagaracollege.ca/policies/view/human-resources/remote-work.

Employees have until June 17, 2022 to send their request for a remote work arrangement, via email, to their manager.

Interested employees must download and review the College’s Remote Work Policy, Procedure and Employee Remote Workspace Self-Assessment form from the Niagara College Remote Work Policy webpage and send the completed self-assessment form indicating their remote work arrangement request to their manager by the deadline.

The manager will review the request and communicate their decision by July 22, 2022.

All remote work arrangements will take effect on September 5, 2022.

Managers will consider operational demands and the requirements of an employee’s particular role during the decision-making process.

Consideration factors vary and are according to departmental need. They are outlined in the Remote Work Policy here: niagaracollege.ca/policies/view/human-resources/remote-work.

Please consult your manager.

The first factor determining remote work arrangements will be the operational needs of a department as well as specific responsibilities of an employee’s role. In the case where there are two competing flexible work arrangement requests from employees of the same union, seniority will be the determining factor in most situations.

As of May 2022, a speed of at least 5 Mbps of upload and download bandwidth is required. This can be tested by going to google.ca and typing “speed test” and running the link that will appear. Remote work is not practical without at least 5 Mbps bandwidth.

No. If the employee is requesting a remote work arrangement, it is their responsibility to ensure they have fast and reliable high-speed Internet.

Employees are responsible to ensure that they have a home office space that is safe and secure. Employees can use a home office space check list to ensure that their workspace meets all safety requirements – including, for example, being free of tripping hazards and having an appropriate office chair to sit in that provides ergonomic support. Employees are also responsible for ensuring that any work-related conversations take place in ways that maintain workplace confidentiality and all work-related documents are secured in a place where nobody else in their home can access them. The College reserves the right to inspect remote office workspaces to ensure the workspace is ergonomically safe and free of hazards.

Concerns should be discussed with your manager.

For specific ergonomic needs, contact Darren Williams in Human Resources.

No. Under the Remote Work Policy, employees will be provided with one outfitted workstation – one or two monitors, docking station, keyboard/mouse – either on campus or for use at the remote work setting.

For employees who are approved for a remote work arrangement, desk sharing and/or hoteling options within the department may be implemented, as determined by the manager.

Yes. As per the Remote Work Policy, the default location for College work and, by proxy, equipment and furniture, is on campus. Equipment (computers, monitors, cables, etc.) and furniture (desk, chair, etc.) must be returned to campus in time for the implementation of this policy on September 6.

Employees who have requested a Remote Work Arrangement (RWA) must make arrangements to prepare their remote workstations at their own expense. Employees must have their remote workstation equipped and set up prior to the commencement of their RWA. This may include purchasing additional computer peripherals (i.e. monitors, cables, etc.) that are compatible with College-issued laptops.

All IT support for employees who are not working on campus will be provided via a remote service desk (including phone, chat, and service request tickets). No in home or remote location service will be provided. If issues arise that cannot be investigated or resolved remotely, employees may be required to come to campus to attend the help desk to get IT support in a timely manner.

Niagara College supplies all employees with the equipment necessary to perform their work. This means the College will supply employees with a computer station on campus. To transition to a proper remote work environment, ITS has a plan to implement college-issued staff laptops that will allow on-or-off campus mobility. This includes supplying such equipment to all full-time staff, many part-time staff whose duties can be performed remotely, as well as sessional and partial load instructors. Unfortunately, the college is currently unable to provide laptops to part-time instructors and staff whose work requires them to be on campus to access required resources.

Niagara College will not provide employees with internet service or printers off campus, but all employees will have the ability to print to an on-campus printer from a remote location. Part-time faculty will continue to have access to on-campus computing resources if they cannot get access to the resources they need remotely.

It’s important to note that Niagara College will provide all employees with equipment for one workspace. Typically, this will be on campus. Aside from College provided laptop, remote working employees will be responsible for equipping their remote workspace. For any employee who has accommodation needs, contact your Human Resources Consultant.

If you already have a college supplied laptop, you will be able to bring this laptop home to work remotely. Laptops will be provided to staff as they become available. In instances where an employee does not yet have a college laptop, they will be required to return to campus until such technology is available. In cases where work can be performed remotely but a college issued laptop is not available due to lack of supply, remote work flexible work arrangements may not be possible until a laptop becomes available.

No, employees cannot use their personal computer to complete college work. This is to ensure the security of all sensitive college data.

The College is looking to secure sensitive data by ensuring it is accessible only via VPN. Access will require college equipment (laptops) or for employees to be on-campus.

Access to Blackboard, Portal, and some administrative and SharePoint information will continue to be accessible via Multi-Factor Authentication.

In summary, home equipment may be used, but some College files/information may not be accessible in the future. IT does not currently, nor does it plan to, support home equipment.

No. Niagara College will provide all employees with equipment for one workspace. Typically, this will be on campus. Aside from College provided laptop, employees working remotely will be responsible for equipping their remote workspace. For employees who have accommodation needs, contact your Human Resources Consultant.

Employees who have requested a Remote Work Arrangement (RWA) must make arrangements to prepare their remote workstations at their own expense by September 6 when the policy takes effect. This may include purchasing additional computer peripherals (i.e. monitors, cables, etc.) that are compatible with College-issued laptops.

College-issued equipment and furniture must be returned to campus in time for the implementation of this policy on September 6.

Managers can help employees assess whether they require additional equipment to be productive at home. Support in selecting the right remote workstation equipment is available via the ITS Service Desk.

ITS has partnered with Dell so employees can purchase high quality equipment that is compatible with College-issued laptop at discounted prices. Visit dell.ca/niagaracollege.

Support in selecting the right remote workstation equipment is available via the ITS Service Desk.

As the Remote Work Arrangements will result in the sharing of desks and offices, some departments may designate certain workstations within their areas as “touchdown” spaces which can be scheduled for use.

Supervisors will communicate such arrangements to employees in their areas.

Hoteling spaces will be created at each campus to allow employees in any department to reserve a workstation. Employees will be able to plug their College-issued laptops into a fully functioning workspace on campus.

• Welland Campus: S104
• Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake: Second Floor Marotta

More information will be available shortly, please stay tuned.