Flexible Work Arrangements

As MIT employees, employees of J-PAL NA are subject to the policies of MIT, which allow J-PAL NA some discretion in setting up remote work and flexible schedule arrangements subject to approval by MIT.  

Most roles at J-PAL North America are based in Cambridge, MA and offer a hybrid work schedule. While a fully remote arrangement is an option for some roles, the strong preference is that most employees are coming into the office regularly as needed for important meetings and events, while also having the opportunity to work remotely on other days. We believe there is significant benefit to our employees' learning and development as well as to our productivity and workplace culture to spending time in-person with our colleagues.

J-PAL NA currently sets its standard work hours as 40 hours per week on Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:30pm EST, with a one-hour unpaid lunch break. There is some flexibility with regard to this schedule so please work with your manager to set your hours. All employees have the option to take a Quiet Thursday remote work benefit. Flexible schedules that fall within the Monday-Friday 7:00am-7:00pm EST range are at the discretion of the employee’s supervisor.  

All employees are required to complete a Flexible Work Arrangement form each year to document their work arrangement. Employees are advised that it is not possible to extend a fully remote work arrangement to all positions at J-PAL NA as physical presence at the office is necessary for the various tasks assigned to some positions. Similarly, even for employees who are permitted to avail of remote work or flexible work arrangements, it is important to understand that such permission does not create any inherent right, and the continuation of any remote or flexible work arrangement is subject to the discretion of J-PAL NA’s senior leadership team and MIT approval. A regular review of remote work or flexible work arrangements at least every 12 months is required to ensure they continue to be effective for both the employer and employee.

Employees who work remotely, either on a hybrid or fully-remote basis, must be prepared to take responsibility for ensuring that they are working in a safe environment for themselves and any J-PAL North America equipment, and that any sensitive data or confidential information they are accessing is protected. Care should be taken when working in a public place that sensitive information discussed on phone calls or other communications are kept confidential. All laptops or other equipment provided to hybrid and fully remote workers remains the property of J-PAL North America.

J-PAL North America cannot cover internet, phone, insurance, office supplies, relocation, office space, travel to Cambridge, or other costs associated with voluntarily working remotely.  J-PAL North America is also unable to cover commuting costs to MIT for employees who voluntarily work remotely or for those who have a hybrid work arrangement, even if they are coming to the office for a special event or meeting outside their normal hybrid work schedule. For employees who have an ongoing remote work arrangement where their regular work location is outside of the Cambridge, MA office, and where they are located remotely for strategic reasons (not personal ones) travel to and from the Cambridge, MA office and some other costs associated with remote work will be covered as a normal business expense. Before completing their Flexible Work Arrangement form, employees should check in with their supervisor or the Director of Finance & Operations if they are not clear on what costs are covered in their particular situation. 

 See our J-Flex NA document describing J-PAL NA’s current flexible work arrangement practices.