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I have assumed supervision of a group of employees who currently have a diverse range of flexible work arrangements. I may need to change these or I may not – but first I need to get handle on them. Where do I begin?

Refer to Measuring and Managing Flexible Work Arrangements  in the Flex Tools and Resources Section for general practices and guidelines. You will want to start by documenting what work arrangements are currently in place – a chart or spreadsheet...

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What role should an employee’s reason for proposing a flexible work arrangement play in whether or not I grant a proposal?

Specific procedures apply if the employee’s proposal is based on his/her own health condition or disability or that of a family member; in such cases, you should immediately contact your local HR representative for guidance.

Employees are not required to give a reason when submitting flexible work arrangement proposals. A supervisor should evaluate each proposal on the business case, and should not deny a proposal based on an employee’s reason (or perceived lack of reason). Sometimes an employee may not wish to do so, especially if private family issues are the reason.

However...

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How do the on-campus child care centers decide who gets a space?

Each center offers spaces to current families first, giving returning children and siblings priority. Preference is then given to Harvard affiliates according to a tier system established by the university. Harvard faculty who are eligible for the ACCESS Program are considered Tier 1A and have priority enrollment on up to half of child care center slots. Preference is then given to other benefits-eligible faculty, staff and postdoctoral fellows on a regular Harvard...

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How should I decide which child care center(s) to apply to?

Child care centers vary in their characteristics and cultures, as well as in their locations and sizes. We encourage you to get to know individual centers before making the decision to apply. Please visit their web sites, attend open houses, or make appointments to visit if possible. You can find contact information and website links on this information sheet. Some families apply to just one center, and others choose to apply to all...

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Do slots in Harvard's on-campus child care centers ever open up mid-year?

Each center requires parents to sign a contract. Enrollment is focused around the academic calendar, with new enrollment concentrated in the fall. While there are sometimes mid- year enrollments, most children remain in their programs for the length of the contract. If your care needs fall outside of this schedule, please reach out to centers individually. They can sometimes pair two families with matching needs.

How can I increase my odds of getting a slot at one of the on-campus child care centers?

Provide accurate information. We rely on accurate information entered into the online application system to be able to contact families. Please be sure to enter all relevant information carefully and completely. Please be sure to include an HUID, if applicable. If you do not yet have an HUID, please be sure return to your application and provide it as soon as you can. If you are new to Harvard as a staff or faulty member or degree student and do not have a Harvard ID number, you can contact the ...

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How long are the waiting lists for the on-campus child care centers, and what does my position on a waiting list mean?

Waiting lists should really be called “application lists,” because they do tell us who is actually waiting and would take a spot if offered. Families may have their names on several lists at the same time, and may leave their name on a waiting list even once they are enrolled elsewhere. In addition, you may be waiting only for a full time space, and someone who applied after you and wants a part-time spot may be offered a space first if that opens (or vice versa). Within each...

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