Remote Work
The workplace culture at Caltech is one that is rooted in collaboration and in providing exceptional service to our faculty, staff, and students. With appropriate use of technology and management, staff, whose roles allow for some work hours to be performed away from their regular on-site Caltech work location, may be eligible for remote work. This webpage and the Guide for Remote Work were created to assist employees and supervisors in navigating the potential for remote work.
Plan and prepare
Requesting remote work
- Review the remote work agreement (PDF)
- Read the Institute's Personnel Memoranda 11-5, Remote Work (PDF)
- Remote Work Infographic: Speaking to Your Manager
- View the remote hybrid infographic (PDF) for the rubric on determining how roles qualify for remote work
- Submit the completed and signedremote work agreement (PDF) to Employee & Organizational Development for review and final approval
Connectivity and Cybersecurity
- Explore the IMSS page on telecommuting
- If you need to access applications that require VPN be sure to set it up with IMSS.
- Assess and plan your equipment needs (e.g. laptop stand, headphones, webcam, etc.)
Setting up your workspace
- Contact EH&S to do an ergonomics assessment of your chosen work area.
- If you need a reasonable accommodation, contact the Disability and Leave Administration Unit to start the interactive process.
Additional Resources
- If you have just started at Caltech, we encourage you to attend your online new hire orientation HR Connect@Caltech. Keep an eye on your email for an invitation the Recruiting team.
- Remote Work FAQs for Employees
- Remote Work Agreement
Assessing your workgroup
- Remote work best practices for supervisors (PDF)
- Remote Hybrid Infographic (PDF) to determine which roles are suitable for remote work
- FAQs for supervisors (HTML)
- Familiarize yourself with Remote Work Personnel Memoranda 11-5 (PDF)
- Onsite Readiness Analysis Worksheet (EXCEL)
Manage your workday
It can take time to adjust to a remote work space especially when it comes to communicating. Here are some resources to navigate your new work day.
Tips and Resources
- Timekeeping Guideline (PDF)
- Remote Work Infographic: Employee's Role
- SHRM article on improving communication in a digital environment
Balancing worklife when you're always home
If you're feeling disconnected from the campus we encourage you to look into employee resource groups. If you don't see a group you identify with reach out to [email protected] and if we have people who have similar interests we'll help connect you.
TheWell@Caltech is a place to go for a steady channel of mental health support, including coping strategies, tools and techniques, resources of many types, and a place to connect curated by the Staff & Faculty Consultation Center.
If you prefer a self-guided approach sign up for SilverCloud. SilverCloud is a free, online platform that consists of different modules to help with anxiety, depression, stress, and relationships.
- Sign up for the Worklife newsletter.
- Stay up to date on what's happening by visiting Caltech Today.
Training and Development
Trainings in development
- HRConnect@Caltech
- Appropriate Communication: Norms and Expectations
- Managing Your Day and Prioritizing your Work in a Remote Work Environment
- Establishing Working Relationships in a Remote Work Environment
- Tools and Platforms that facilitate Remote Work
Contact Employee & Organizational Development for details on training.
Leader from a Distance
Trainings in development
- Manager onboarding (appropriate for newly hired and newly promoted managers)
- Recruiting in a Remote Environment
- Onboarding Employees Virtually
- Building a Strong Virtual Team
- Managing Performance when you have Remote Employees
- Promoting an Inclusive Work environment While Supporting Remote Work
- Tools and Platforms that Facilitate Remote Work
Contact Employee & Organizational Development for details on training.
Leader from a Distance
Virtual Tools
- Adobe Sign
-
Caltech Help
Submit support requests
- Teams
- VPN
- Zoom