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Modes of Work

Hybrid Work

A Hybrid Work arrangement is one where an employee is required to work on site for a portion of their time, but can telework effectively from an alternate non-Lab location for the balance of their work time. Hybrid Work is an arrangement for some part(s) of the employee’s work or workweek to be performed at a location away from their Berkeley Lab-provided workspace on a regular or recurring basis. These may be the most complicated flexible work options to arrange since the hybrid arrangement scheduling needs may vary by position and generally require coordination of schedules with other staff to make sure that on-site business needs are met. Hybrid Work arrangements may either require a fixed schedule (e.g. one to four days per week), or may be fluid (e.g. general number of days or percentage of time over the pay period) as determined by the needs of the business and/or the position’s duties. Since hybrid workers are expected to be on site on a regular basis, a Hybrid Work location is expected to be within 150 miles of the Lab.

Full-Time On-Site Work

Full-time on-site work is a traditional work arrangement where the nature of the position’s duties requires an employee to work full time on one of our Lab sites in order to fulfill mission-essential research and support. Employees who work on a Lab site as their primary work arrangement may be eligible to telework on an occasional basis. As a general rule, this unplanned type of telework would occur about 12 days a year. Supervisors may approve occasional requests at their discretion without a formal agreement. Examples include ad hoc situations such as the need to be home for a delivery or technician, or a need to attend a personal appointment located close to home during the workday.

Full-Time Telework

Full-time Telework is an arrangement for an employee to work full time from a site other than a Berkeley Lab-provided workspace that is within 150 miles of the Lab. This mode may be feasible for employees who are able to perform their work and effectively meet the mission needs of their division or department without being physically present on a Lab site. A dedicated workstation on a Lab site will not be provided for Full-Time Telework employees. Supervisors will establish expectations for employees who work on a Full-time Telework schedule to work on-site on an occasional basis and not on a set schedule. On-site work locations for occasional on-site visits will be determined by their division leadership and managed within their existing division space.

Full-Time Remote Work

Full-time Remote Work is an arrangement to work from a site further than 150 miles from the Lab, but within the domestic United States. This mode does not include working outside of the U.S. These arrangements are driven by business needs. This type of work occurs when the employee works exclusively off-site as part of the terms and conditions of employment and does not maintain an office on one of our Berkeley Lab sites.

Flexible Work Tool Kit

Supervisors should initiate conversations with all of their employees to determine what work mode will meet the mission needs of their position, program, project, and/or division. The responsibility for this conversation falls primarily to supervisors to ensure that work arrangements meet objectives, and it is the supervisor’s role to determine, based on the criteria set by their division and area leadership, how much physical presence is required on a Lab site to effectively meet business needs. Some employees may not feel comfortable initiating the conversation, and it is important that every eligible employee has the opportunity to discuss the possibility of a flexible work arrangement if they are interested in one.

Flexible Work Arrangement Process Guide

This Process Guide is designed to facilitate the determination of appropriate work arrangements that ensure effective execution of each position’s duties and responsibilities toward achieving the Lab’s mission while providing individual flexibility where appropriate for the work and as desired by the individual. Through a collaborative and interactive dialog with employees, each supervisor must determine and document which of the four available work arrangements is appropriate for the work being done (Full-Time Work On-Site Work, Hybrid Work, Full-Time Telework, or Full-Time Remote Work). Once determined, an approved work mode must be entered into the Work Mode Assignment Tool to document the work mode and route for applicable approvals.