Post Parental Leave Employee Resource Group: Remote Work and Flexible Work Arrangements at MSU- How to Develop a Request

Date: Thursday, October 12, 2023 | Time: 12:00-1:00pm | Location: Virtual- Zoom

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Event Description

As a new edition has been or will be added to your family, you may be considering other potential options for your work schedule such as remote work, a hybrid schedule, or flexible working arrangements. If so, join the October session of the Post Parental Leave Employee Resource Group for a chance to learn about MSU’s remote and hybrid work policies as well as how to develop a flexible work arrangement request. The PPL ERG is intended to be an informal opportunity for MSU Spartans and their family members to connect on the important topic of the needs associated with parental leave. 

Learning Objectives

  • Learn about MSU’s remote and hybrid work policies as well as types of flexible work arrangements 
  • Discuss considerations for requesting a flexible work arrangement 
  • Review steps to developing a flexible work arrangement request 

About the Speaker: Jake Lathrop, Consultant to the Vice President/Chief of Human Resources Officer

Jake currently serves MSU as a Consultant to the Vice President/Chief Human Resources Officer.  He has over 15 years of experience at MSU, with previous roles including: Consultant to the Executive Vice President for Administration; Human Resources & Facilities Director in the College of Education; and HR Specialist for recruitment, selection, classification, compensation, and strategic staffing within MSU HR.  Prior to MSU he worked in Operations Management at UPS.   

Jake currently serves as the Chair of the Midwest Region Board of Directors for the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR).  He also serves on the CUPA-HR National Public Policy Committee and was named the 2018 CUPA-HR Midwest Region Emerging Leader.  Additionally, Jake represents MSU on the Big Ten Collaboration on Staff Advocacy. 

Jake is a proud alum of Michigan State and has been a life-long Spartan.  He enjoys fly fishing, exercise, hanging with family and friends and spending time “up north.” 

About the Speaker: Rachel Perez, WorkLife Consultant

Rachel Perez is a WorkLife Consultant for the WorkLife Office at Michigan State University (MSU). She brings 10 years of Human Resources experience as well as a bachelor’s degree from MSU’s Eli Broad College of Business. Rachel has served as an HR Coordinator and an Assistant Health & Safety Coordinator for the Student Life & Engagement division. In these positions, her teams benefited greatly from her project management and program coordination experience. As an HR Generalist for the MSU HR Solutions Center, she was able to advocate for faculty and staff members throughout the processes of hiring, benefits enrollment, and training, while considering their emotional and cultural needs as they begin a transition in their career. Fostering MSU’s values of inclusiveness and equity, Rachel has proudly served as a Project Manager for MSU’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee as well as a member of the DEI Advisory Board for Student Life & Engagement. Furthering her education, Rachel is currently enrolled into the Master of Human Resources and Labor Relations through MSU’s College of Social Science. Rachel is a mother of 3 children and is married to an MSU Spartan as well, go green! In her free time, she stays active as a Zumba Instructor through MSU’s Recreational Sports and Fitness Services department. She also enjoys playing volleyball, running, and outdoor activities including hiking, camping, and spending time at the beach.