Managing Virtually
Guides and Instructions
- Temporary Telecommuting Program Guidance
- Instructional Faculty Telecommuting Expectations
- Guidance for Managing Virtually
- COVID-19 Student Employee Info
- Telecommuting Tips and Resources
Wellness & Mental Health Resources
Telecommuting / Leave Forms
Below you will find resources and guidance for helping you and your teams through the transition to a new way of working. If there is a recurring issue that you or your team is wrestling with, please submit suggestions for future topics to eoc@csuchico.edu.
FAQ may be sent to working-virtually@csuchico.edu (a distribution list to individuals in HR and Labor Relations).
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Guidance for Leaders
Managing employees in a virtual world presents a number of challenges, but there are a wide variety of resources available for consideration.
CSU Learn has Working Virtually bundles, and a new course has been added for CSU managers transitioning to remote work (and supervising) during COVID-19.
Life Matters, our Employee Assistance Program, has special offerings and guidance for managers:
- Self Care for Leaders During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Register for a Live Webinar(opens in new window), May 6, 2020, 9:30-10:30 AM PDT
- The Advisor Newsletter for Supervisors and Managers (PDF)
- COVID-19: The Workplace Impact
- How Do I Say That? Maintaining Workplace Morale
Telecommuting Tasks
Where possible, managers should be assigning meaningful telecommuting opportunities. Samples of tasks that can be accomplished remotely include:
- Regularly checking email
- Compliance Training
- Process guides (review and/or development
- Online training (see below)
- Form updates
- Website reviews (checking links, etc.)
- Organize Box files
- Clean/organize email
- Desk manuals
- Process mapping
- Coordination of traditional work activities
Articles
- That Discomfort You're Feeling is Grief(opens in new window) (Harvard Business Review)
- The Contagion We Can Control(opens in new window) (Harvard Business Review)
- Anxiety Is Contagious. Here’s How to Contain It.(opens in new window) (Harvard Business Review)
- Real Leaders: Oprah Winfrey and the Power of Empathy(opens in new window) (Harvard Business Review - podcast)
One-Stop Telecommuting Tips
Telecommuting tips and resources are now available online(opens in new window).
Health, Safety, and Ergonomics
Our Environmental Health and Safety(opens in new window) department has provided tips for managers regarding:
- Essential Ergonomics are important for keeping healthy at home
- Social Distancing in Offices, Reception Areas, and Other Work Settings
Tech Assistance
You can submit a request for most campus IT Support through the ITSS Service Catalog(opens in new window).
Services used internally by individual Divisions, Colleges and Departments are available through the ITSS College and Department(opens in new window) service link.
Setting up a Home Office
- Ordering Supplies(opens in new window)
- Ergonomics(opens in new window)
- Temporary Telecommuting Program Guidance(opens in new window), unless you are Instructional Faculty(opens in new window)
- Telecommuting Agreement (PDF) (not needed for Instructional Faculty)
Business Services
The Business and Finance Division-Wide Continuity Plan (PDF) outlines how each unit has adjusted processes to function remotely, how staff can be contacted, and what services have been modified or suspended.
Compliance Training
Ensure your team is up-to-date on their compliance training. Managers and Leads can check on their team’s assigned training and run reports through CSU Learn’s Manager Dashboard.
For employees that need help, our campus training website has links to a CSU Learn Knowledge Base(opens in new window) and Quick Guides to get them started.
Virtual Professional Development
You are able to assign online professional development to staff who report to you to be completed as part of the work assignment, and to then assign tasks that demonstrate new skills. You can login to CSU Learn(opens in new window) and search for topics that are relevant and meaningful.
We also have links to online learning for staff to help them adjust to working virtually(opens in new window).
Employee Support
This time has been troubling for all of us. The uncertainty of the situation, the changing home life for many, the concern for those in the community who are facing the risks of the virus every day all contribute to these feelings. Please remind all of your employees (and remind yourself, too), that the Employee Assistance Program remains available. This is a great resource on many topics, so encourage all employees to take advantage of this benefit.
Performance Evaluations
Managers should plan on completing evaluations (and on being evaluated) under normal timelines. Keep in mind that the present circumstances may not represent the full range of an employee’s annual work performance, and don’t let "recency bias" affect your ratings.
A temporary virtual process for performance evaluations is available on our performance management(opens in new window) site.