GBEH – Working From Home – Cherry Creek Schools Board of Education

The Board of Education recognizes that Cherry Creek School District (CCSD) employees may consult with their supervising administrator to determine whether working at home or in a satellite location for all or part of their workweek due to the extraordinary public health crisis caused by COVID-19 is appropriate. All work from home arrangements must be approved by a District administrator. The Office of Human Resources must be notified when such arrangements are approved. The Board of Education considers working from home to be a viable work option when both the employee and the essential functions of the employee's job duties are suited to such an arrangement. Working from home may be appropriate for some employees and duties but not for others. Working from home is not an entitlement, shall be permitted sparingly, and in no way alters the terms and conditions of employment with CCSD.

Expectations

The amount of time the employee is expected to work per day or pay period will not change as a result of participation in working from home. Unless otherwise agreed to or required by the supervising administrator, an employee's work schedule shall be the same as the employee's schedule at the customary worksite. While working from home, employees must be available via telephone, email, or videoconference and must respond to communications in a typical and timely fashion. Employees are expected to participate in scheduled staff and/or department meetings while working from home. Employees agree not to conduct any in-person work meetings at their home office location. The quantity and quality of work performance while working from home should be comparable to the work completed at CCSD locations. The employee must adhere to deadlines and meet established objectives. Supervising administrators may require employees to provide reports or other work products that demonstrate work performed or accomplished while working from home. Employees working from home must comply with all CCSD Board policies and procedures. Consistent with CCSD's expectations of confidentiality of employee records as well as student matters pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g, employees are expected to ensure the protection of confidential employee and student information accessible from their home office. The use of private spaces for virtual communications with students and the discussion of student matters; the use of headphones when communicating with students to reduce disclosures to third-parties; and any other steps to maintain confidentiality are encouraged. Working from home is not designed to be a replacement for appropriate childcare. Although an individual employee's schedule may be modified to accommodate childcare needs, the focus of the arrangement must remain on job performance. The employee should take personal leave time to accommodate personal business at his or her home or sick leave if the employee is unable to work as they would in a normal office setting. All sick leave or general leave is subject to approval by the employee's supervising administrator. Any leave of absence is subject to approval by the Benefits Office. Employees who are not exempt from overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will be required to accurately record all hours worked using CCSD's time-keeping system. As a general rule, overtime hours for such employees are not permitted in a work from home scenario. Any overtime hours whatsoever need the advance approval by the supervising administrator.

Equipment and Materials

CCSD may, at its discretion, provide equipment to the employee to perform his or her duties while working from home such as computer hardware, email, voicemail, software, and other equipment. The use of equipment is limited to authorized users and for purposes related to work and is subject to all CCSD Board policies and procedures, including Board Policy EGA-Electronic Communication and EHC-Networked Electronic Information Resources. CCSD will maintain and repair its equipment. Upon separation of employment, CCSD equipment will be returned to CCSD within five (5) business days, or within a timeframe previously arranged and agreed upon by the employee's supervising administrator or Human Resources. If equipment is not returned, CCSD may deduct the reasonable value of the equipment from the employee's last paycheck. Employees shall be responsible for the maintenance and repair of their personal equipment. CCSD does not assume responsibility for loss, damage, or wear of employee-owned equipment. Costs incurred by an employee to create a home office space are at the employee's expense and will not be reimbursed. These costs include, but are not limited to, internet connections, travel mileage, telephone, insurance, and utilities.

Safety

Employees are expected to designate a home workspace that is clean and free of obstructions. Employees must maintain their home workspace in a safe condition, free from safety hazards and other dangers to the employee and equipment. Injuries sustained by the employee in a home office location and in the course and scope of his or her regular work duties are generally covered by CCSD's workers' compensation policies. Employees are responsible for notifying the employer in writing of such injuries as soon as practicable, but at the latest no later than four (4) business days. CCSD reserves the right to inspect the employee's home office location post-injury. CCSD assumes no responsibility for any activity, damages, injury, or other loss that is: not directly associated with or resulting from the employee's official job duties; occurs in the employee's workspace outside the agreed-upon work hours; occurs anywhere in the employee's home outside the designated workspace; occurs to the family members, visitors, or others that are injured within or around the employee's home. CCSD assumes no responsibility for the employee's personal property.

Cross References:	EGA – Electronic Mail
	EHC – Networked Electronic Information Resources
	JRC-R – Student Records/Release of Information on Students
	JRC – Student Records/Release of Information on Students
	GBEB – Staff Conduct

Adoption Date: August 03, 2020 Last Revised: September 14, 2020