Introduction
Remote work is an arrangement in which an employee’s official duty station is an approved alternative worksite. The approved alternative worksite may be inside or outside the local commuting area of the Agency worksite and is typically, although not always, the employee’s residence.
Remote work is not an employee entitlement, but rather a workplace flexibility that may be available dependent on a variety of factors and with supervisory approval.
Remote work is an increasingly common arrangement at not only the NIH but across the federal government and in the private sector. Remote work may be considered if the nature of work requires onsite work to be performed less than two days during a typical bi-weekly pay period.
Guidance
- NIH Pre-Approved Remote Work Occupational Series and Positions Guide
- NIH Pre-Approved Remote Work Eligibility Special Hiring Authorities and Employee Groups Guide
- Considerations for eligibility
- Alternative worksite safety evaluation
- Process for initiating a Workplace Flexibilities Agreement
- Helpful Hints for Completing the HHS 990-1 Workplace Flexibilities Agreement
- Frequently Asked Questions
Training
Employees who wish to use any of the above flexibilities must accomplish the following:
- Workplace Flexibilities Training
- NIH Information Security and Privacy Awareness Training (Signed Rules of Behavior and Emergency Preparedness Training requirements)
- Telework training
- Cyber Security Awareness Training
- Annual Ethics Training
Toolkits
Resources
- ITAS User Guides for Remote Work and Telework
- HHS Workplace Flexibilities Agreement
- Impacts of remote work on health and dental insurance
- For employees located overseas:
- Hours of work for travel [OPM]
- Quick Reference Guide: Required documents for Duty Station Changes
- Quick Reference Guide: Advertising Remote Positions
- Change in Alternative Worksite Form
- NED Remote Worker User Guide/Job Aid (for AO Use)
- Remote Work Request Tool