Academic work is often scheduled (on campus) and unscheduled or self-directed. While professors independently manage their self-directed work, including when and where the work is performed,  librarians and archivists are often denied similar professional autonomy. Thus, some faculty associations have negotiated language that makes that right clear for all members engaged in academic work, including library and archives. Article 16.4.3 in the University of Regina Faculty Association’s collective agreement confirms that academic staff members — including Librarians²³ — are “not required to be on campus to fulfil their responsibilities” and have the professional autonomy to manage their daily schedule:

16.4.3 The academic environment at the University is enhanced by the presence of academic staff members on campus. Accordingly, the duties of academic staff members are normally to be carried out on campus. Nonetheless, members are not required to be on campus to fulfil their responsibilities as outlined in this Article whenever their absence does not conflict with their duties under this Article. However, each member who is not on leave shall ensure that the head of the academic unit is aware of how and when the member can be contacted in case, for good and valid reason, the member’s presence on campus is required.²⁴

Likewise, the Simon Fraser University Faculty Association agreement includes “Letter of Agreement 1: Librarians and Archivists Guideline for Off-Site Work Arrangements” (see Appendix 1). The guidelines are for administrators and Librarians and/or Archivists to negotiate working off-campus arrangements.

The SFUFA guidelines include the following two positive obligations on managers :

Manager/Supervisor Considerations

1.    Make efforts to accommodate off-site work arrangements within operational constraints.  

2.    Ensure that working from home arrangements are administered fairly and provide all employees with an opportunity to make use of these arrangements, if they wish.

Depending upon other language in an agreement, the lack of specific provisions on self-directed duties and off-campus work does not necessarily mean that members do not have the right to work off campus. Academic staff associations should review their language and past practices to determine their members’ right to work off campus and what bargaining strategies, if any, are needed to secure and strengthen that right.