UW to reverse coverage barring compensation for worldwide telecommuting scholar employees · The Badger Herald

After months of student advocacy on campus and around the world, the University of Wisconsin is set to reverse its decision not to compensate international teleworkers for students for the spring semester.

In one letter From Wal Walters, UW’s chief human resources officer, who was sent to representatives from Associated Students of Madison on Friday, Walters said the administration will lift the general ban on compensating international teleworking students during the fall semester under COVID-19.

The leaders of the ASM advocate compensation for international teleworking students. UW defends current policyAssociate students of Madison leaders will continue to push for legislation this Tuesday to respond to a University of Wisconsin wage Read…

The letter was addressed to ASM employees. Samuel Jorudd, Lennox Owino and Brian Li, all Sponsored In early December, UW administrators were asked to extend the payment to all student teleworkers, whether or not they were in the US

Before the announcement on Friday, the UW administrators announced that they would do so unsupported The legislation regarding the payment of international undergraduate teleworkers due to the risks and liabilities associated with overseas workers, including cybersecurity issues, employment requirements that are unique to each country, and international tax implications.

Walters said in the letter that UW decided to reverse its policies after an exception procedure was put in place in December that only allowed ASM representatives to telework for work outside the country. The dean of studies Christina Olstad has since received and approved an exception application, said Walters.

After implementing the exemption, Walters said UW would reverse its original decision as a “relatively small number” of student hourly workers would work outside the country on occasion.

“This decision is based on the minimal additional risk and liability of adding those few student staff to UW-Madison staff who are already working outside the country.” Walters said in the letter.

ASM is asking UW to pay teleworkers and implement the pass / fail assessment optionASM unanimously passed resolutions on remuneration for international student workers in teleworking and assessing pass / fail during Tuesday’s meeting Read…

Walters said student hourly workers will continue to go through the same remote work permit process as other categories of employment, such as: B. Student assistants. Walters also said in the letter that UW is working to fix late payments for student hourly workers from the previous semester.

In a statement to The Badger Herald, ASM chairman Matthew Mitnick said This decision also lifts a hiring freeze that prevented international teleworkers from being hired in the first place. Mitnick said the policy reversal suggests student advocacy and pressure can bring about effective change.

“Months ago we were told that this policy could not be reversed, but after many months the administration decided to appreciate international student teleworkers for their very important work,” Mitnick said in the statement. “This shows that anything is possible with passionate and authentic student representation!”

Li said in a statement to The Badger Herald that he was “grateful” that all of the student’s efforts bring justice to international teleworkers. As a student teleworker, Li hopes this change will ease the financial and mental pressures on the students concerned.

Owino reiterated Li and Mitnick’s views on reversing the decision, but said there are still issues with the initial implementation of the directive that need to be addressed in the future.

UW will not establish a fall-pass / fail option despite continued student advocacyWith University of Wisconsin students continuing to advocate a pass / fail option for the fall semester, the UW administrators confirmed this Read…

“I’m still disappointed that the policy even existed and denied many international students their rightful wages during the fall semester and winter break,” Owino said in a statement to The Badger Herald. “In the future, joint governance with student leaders should be a priority to prevent such unfair policies from even being raised.”

Walters said in the letter that the policy reversal will be communicated with staff representatives on campus over the next week.