33.06.01.S1 Flexible Work Schedule

Approved January 19, 1996
Revised November 5, 2001
Revised August 19, 2004

Supplements System Policy 33.06

  1. GOAL

    The standard workweek for full-time SAGO employees is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break, Monday through Friday.  The flexible work schedule program permits a predetermined and approved variation to the standard workweek, which fulfills the job requirements while responding to the needs of SAGO employees.

  2. ELIGIBILITY
    1. 2.1 A full-time SAGO employee, with his or her supervisor’s permission, is eligible to participate in the flexible work schedule program.  The flexible schedule must remain in effect for at least two months.  A supervisor may set longer minimum periods for his or her employees.  This minimum period does not restrict the supervisor's right to require or allow variations to work schedules as needed, whether the employee works a standard workweek or a flexible schedule.
    2. 2.2 A supervisor may determine that some positions require performance during standard hours for maximum effectiveness.  Employees in those positions and employees at the department head level and above are not eligible for flexible work schedules.
  3. THE PROGRAM
    1. 3.1 The program allows full-time SAGO employees, with the advance approval of their supervisors, to adjust their work schedules.  This may involve:
      1. Adjusting the starting time, ending time and/or length of lunch break within a workday as long as the employee maintains a 40-hour workweek.  This could include beginning work early, taking a half-hour lunch break or leaving later. 
      2. Adjusting the number of hours worked each day in the workweek as long as the employee maintains a 40-hour workweek.  This could include working four 9-hour days and one 4-hour day or working four 10-hour days.
      3. For FLSA exempt employees only, adjusting the number of hours worked each day over two consecutive workweeks as long as the employee maintains an 80-hour schedule over the two-week period.  The flexible schedule does not limit the hours an employee must work to complete the job requirements.
    2. 3.2 The program does not permit an individual to work a random variation of hours to accomplish a 40-hour week. 
    3. 3.3 A supervisor may approve a flexible work schedule for one or more employees in a unit if the following conditions are met:
      1. Each SAGO office must be open for business and sufficiently staffed to serve constituents from 8 a.m. until noon, and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with the full spectrum of services expected of that office.
      2. The appropriate vice chancellor must approve a schedule when an employee's workday will be greater than 10 hours or a workweek will be less than five days.
      3. The supervisor must schedule work that requires regular supervision or essential interaction with other staff or customers when interacting staff or customers are available.
      4. Permission for a flexible work schedule may be withdrawn if, in the judgment of the supervisor, the flexible schedule has led to diminished work quality or quantity or is disruptive of normal work flow within the unit, or the affected employee is not following the flexible schedule.
      5. The supervisor is responsible for informing all employees in an office or work unit of flexible schedules approved within the office or unit.
  4. PROCEDURE

    An employee may request a flexible work schedule by completing a Flexible Work Schedule Request, which is online at http://www.tamus.edu/offices/hr/forms/28.pdf.  The form must be signed by the employee, the supervisor and, when required, by the vice chancellor.  The supervisor must send the completed form to the System Human Resources Office to be filed in the employee's official personnel file.

CONTACT OFFICE:  System Human Resources Office

HISTORY: Last Revised November 5, 2001