University of Wisconsin–Madison

Annual Flexible Work Arrangement Process in Workday

It is critical that employees follow instructions in the SMPH Guide on Submitting a Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) when submitting their FWA.

Starting the week of June 1, employees will receive a Workday notification indicating that their current FWA has been ended. Once ended and after discussing plans with their supervisor, employees may initiate a new FWA for FY27 (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027).

Employees required to have an FWA are those who are performing work in a hybrid or remote modality. The FWA requirement applies to staff working remotely from any location, as well as faculty working out of state.

  • Follow instructions in the SMPH Guide on Submitting a Flexible Work Arrangement. FWAs filed incorrectly must be pushed back by supervisors or HR.
  • Top tips for success: 
    • The most common mistake in FWAs is answering “Yes” to the question regarding using personally-owned hardware to access data, when the answer should be “No.” If you use an SMPH-issued computer for remote work, the response should be “No.” See the “Data and Technology Access” section of the guide for more information. 
    • Employees must use July 1, 2026, as the start date and June 30, 2027, as the end date.
  • Supervisors can use the Manager Guide to Approving a Flexible Work Arrangement to inform their review.
  • The SMPH Remote Work Guide has school-specific guidance.
  • All employees engaging in remote work who are required to have an FWA on file must have an approved arrangement in accordance with the UW–Madison Remote Work Policy. The deadline to submit an arrangement is September 30.