Making a telework agreement

Once an intending teleworker has discussed his or her proposed telework arrangement with relevant management staff and secured the necessary approvals, it is good practice to formalise the understandings that have been reached.

This is the role of the telework agreement. Although many of the issues involved should already have been included in the telework guidelines, the agreement can bring the important details together. It also provides an opportunity to note any exceptions to the standard practice that have been agreed.

The telework agreement should be the basic control document:

• overcoming possible problems by setting out the details in advance;
• ensuring managers know how to contact teleworkers;
• ensuring that work performance issues are clearly understood;
• clarifying any legal responsibilities that might apply;
• providing a basis for termination of the arrangement, if necessary; and
• providing security for the teleworker—the telework arrangement will be harder to withdraw should the manager be replaced.

Telework agreements can be straightforward or complicated, depending on the organisation and how it operates. It might only be necessary for the manager to initial an intending teleworker’s proposal to signify that it’s been read and accepted. However, a more formal approach is often necessary.

This template telework agreement could provide a start point.