The 2023 DOE-UFT contract provides opportunities for remote work under certain circumstances.
Parent engagement time
- The parent engagement time can be performed remotely. It doesn’t have to be one consecutive block. Teachers and paras set the schedule for this work.
- The employee will regularly record and submit documentation identifying the remote time and activities on a paper form unless the activity occurs on a school-approved digital system that tracks the time.
- If less than the full time is taken up with parent engagement activities, the teacher or para can use the remaining time, remotely if they wish, on Other Professional Work (OPW).
Election Day and Chancellor’s Conference Day
On Election Day, employees may be permitted to work remotely at the DOE’s discretion. Chancellor’s Conference Day in early June is fully remote.
Parent Teacher Conferences
- UFT-represented staff will not be required to participate in parent teacher conferences from the school building, and they will be able to participate in afternoon conferences remotely if their commute allows.
- Parent teacher conferences may, upon request by the parents/caregivers, occur in person at the school at a mutually agreed upon time.
Remote Work for Other School-Based Titles
Speech Teachers covered by the pilot workday: 25 minutes Mondays through Thursdays for in-person SESIS work, plus 55 minutes of remote SESIS work.
OT/PTs, school counselors, school-based social workers and psychologists, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education Services and Educational Vision Services, and audiologists: Related service providers will create their own schedules based on students’ instructional programs, subject to supervisory approval. Up to 55 minutes of remote work per week to complete administrative and paperwork. Schedules must include adequate time for employees in these titles to complete administrative tasks.
School nurses, school secretaries, teachers of the homebound, adult education staff, hospital schools teachers and lab specialists: Up to 55 minutes of remote work per week to complete administrative duties and paperwork.
Remote Work for Non-School-Based Titles
For teachers assigned, school counselors assigned, non-school-based social workers and psychologists (for example, CSE), education officers & analysts, associate education officers & analysts, administrative education officers & analysts, attendance teachers, audiologists, directors of alcohol and substance abuses, school medical inspectors, sign language interpreters
A two-year pilot for employees rated developing or higher.
These employees may work up to two days per week of remote work, with supervisory approval, only if:
- Employee's job function does not require a continued presence at the job location.
- There will be no reduction in services provided to the public.
- Additional work will not be generated for co-workers due to the employee working remotely.
- There will not be an impact on the DOE’s ability to train and develop employees as a result of remote work.
Employees in these same titles will be allowed to work remotely at the DOE’s discretion on days in which school buildings are closed for an emergency, such as a severe snowstorm.