Return to Workplace Information

A: As former Interim President Kent Fuchs wrote in his July 24 memo, “This decision aligns with national trends across business, education and government sectors. Organizations are finding that shared physical workspaces promote stronger community bonds, more effective onboarding and mentorship, and enhanced opportunities for creative problem-solving and collaboration — attributes that are essential to UF’s excellence.”

A: Yes. Although the nature of faculty work is not typically an “8 to 5 job,” faculty are expected to be physically in the workplace when appropriate to carry out their duties, except in cases where their work or assignment requires them to be elsewhere.

A: All employees should be back to full in-person work no later than Monday, Aug. 25, unless an extension or exception has been approved in writing by the Vice President of Human Resources. However, many areas will have return dates in advance of Aug. 25. Please confirm with your supervisor. Fully remote employees living outside their office area should talk with their supervisor and HR liaison for guidance.

A: Anyone with questions related to unique remote work circumstances should contact their supervisor and unit’s HR liaison to receive guidance. UFHR is meeting with each area’s vice president or dean and their HR liaison to review potential exceptions, which will be based on job-specific factors such as unique job duties or hard-to-fill roles.

A: To identify the needs of UF departments and units, UFHR has scheduled meetings through Aug. 22 with university vice presidents and deans and their HR liaisons. Employees should contact their supervisor and unit’s HR liaison for guidance on the timeline for exception or extension requests.

A:  University vice presidents and deans will discuss space constraints when they meet with UFHR. Once department needs and limitations are understood, UFHR will work with the CFO’s Office, the Provost’s Office, and the Office of Construction, Facilities, and Real Estate to address these needs as quickly as possible and make alternate arrangements when necessary.

A: There are employees whose work requires them to be full-time at an off-campus work location (e.g., a UF employee who does federal government relations in DC). These jobs are not considered remote work, and a return to campus does not apply. The deans and vice presidents of each area should discuss these specific jobs with UFHR to confirm location requirements.

A:  Prior to meeting with UFHR, supervisors should assess and discuss their unit’s needs with their vice president or dean and HR Liaison. These needs will be reviewed during the UFHR meeting.

A: In cases where remote or hybrid work is requested as an accommodation due to an employee’s own disability, the employee should first discuss their situation with their supervisor and HR liaison, then contact the UF ADA office to engage in the ADA interactive process.

A: Please refer questions about remote work related to FMLA to UFHR Leave Administration. Depending on the situation, Leave Administration may work with the ADA Office to explore available options.

A: No. UF units continue to have a range of ways to provide flexibility for their employees, such as a condensed workweek or varying work hours, as long as the FTE commitment is met within the university workweek, Friday to Thursday and the arrangement meets the operational needs of the unit.  Also, ad hoc remote work (e.g., work from home as needed for specific projects or personal circumstances, not to be routine) continues to be an option with supervisor approval.

A: Employees are required to return to in-person work if an extension or exception is not granted. Employees who decide not to return to their main workplace location, may choose to resign or be dismissed from employment.

A: The beginning of a semester typically brings heavy traffic and high demand for parking. Please allow yourself time to find parking near your campus work location. In addition, from Aug. 18 to Sept. 5, faculty and staff can park at the baseball field, where an express shuttle will drop them off at the Newell or McCarty bus stops. See below for other alternative transportation options.  

A: UF students, faculty and staff can ride RTS buses free of charge by showing their GatorONE ID to the bus driver when boarding. Information about RTS routes can be found here. UF students, faculty and staff can also ride the Campus Connector shuttle fare-free with a valid GatorONE ID. Shuttle service times and routes can be found here. Additional information about other transportation options can be found on the Transportation and Parking Services website. Campus Cab by Lyft also provides free transportation to faculty and staff engaged in official business between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. Service is provided to the Main Campus, East Campus and to several UF-owned off-campus locations.

A: UF parking permits can be purchased at the Transportation and Parking Services website.

A: UF offers a number of on-campus dining options. Visit the Florida Fresh website to explore available restaurants, menus, hours of operation and meal plans. Off-campus options within walking distance are also available.

No, additional compensation will not be provided as part of the return to in-person work.

Returning to the workplace marks a transition back to our standard operating model. UF’s compensation package—including salary, benefits, and other incentives—were designed to reflect the full scope of each role, including the possibility of on-site work. While we recognize that this shift may require adjustments for some employees, it does not constitute a change in job responsibilities or conditions that would warrant additional pay.