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Remote work policy template for a small team

A plain remote work policy template for a 5 to 50 person US team, with the ten questions people will ask and a blank for each answer.

Most remote work questions are small: when are we online, who pays for the desk, can I work from another state. Write each answer once, with an owner and a date.

A template with blanks, not legal advice. Rules on pay, leave and data vary by state, so check yours.

The template

Who can work remotely

  • Roles that can work [fully remote / hybrid / on request]: [list].
  • Roles that need to be on site: [list], because [reason].

Hours and availability

  • Core hours are [hours and time zone], when you can be reached in [tool].
  • Meetings are scheduled inside core hours. Response time for a message is [expectation].

Equipment and costs

  • The company provides [laptop, monitor, other] and you return it when you leave.
  • Internet, phone and desk costs are [covered up to [amount] / not covered]. Approvals go to [person].

Where you work from

  • You may work from [home state only / any US state / anywhere approved by [person]].
  • Tell [person] before you work from a different state or country, because tax and legal rules can change.

Security

  • Use [password manager, two-step sign-in, company laptop only]. Do not use public Wi-Fi for [what] without [VPN or hotspot].
  • Report a lost device to [person] within [time].

Who owns this policy

  • Owner: [name]. Last confirmed: [date]. Check again by: [date].

The ten questions your team will ask

Write each answer once, with an owner and the date you last confirmed it. These ten answers are what a bot or a shared FAQ should answer from.

  1. 1.Can I work from home every day?

    Answer: [Which roles, and whether it is a right or by agreement.]

    Owner: [name]. Last confirmed: [date].

  2. 2.What hours do I need to be online?

    Answer: [Core hours with the time zone.]

    Owner: [name]. Last confirmed: [date].

  3. 3.Who pays for my internet and desk?

    Answer: [What is covered, up to how much, and who approves.]

    Owner: [name]. Last confirmed: [date].

  4. 4.What equipment do I get, and do I send it back?

    Answer: [The list, and the return rule.]

    Owner: [name]. Last confirmed: [date].

  5. 5.Can I work from another state for a few weeks?

    Answer: [Your rule and who to tell first. Tax and legal rules can change by state.]

    Owner: [name]. Last confirmed: [date].

  6. 6.Can I work from another country?

    Answer: [Your rule, usually a named approver. Do not leave it open.]

    Owner: [name]. Last confirmed: [date].

  7. 7.How do I reach someone quickly?

    Answer: [The channel for urgent things and the expected response time.]

    Owner: [name]. Last confirmed: [date].

  8. 8.How often do we meet in person?

    Answer: [Your schedule, travel rules, and who pays.]

    Owner: [name]. Last confirmed: [date].

  9. 9.What if my internet goes down?

    Answer: [What to tell, to whom, and whether it costs PTO.]

    Owner: [name]. Last confirmed: [date].

  10. 10.What do I do if my laptop is lost or stolen?

    Answer: [Who to tell, how fast, and what happens next.]

    Owner: [name]. Last confirmed: [date].

Before you publish it

  • Check tax and legal rules before you let people work from other states or countries.
  • Match the policy to what you do in practice, or people will ignore it.
  • Test your bot or FAQ with the ten questions before you rely on it.

Want to check a bot against these questions? Use the free honesty test, or turn the answers into a shareable FAQ with the team FAQ builder.

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Common questions

  • Yes, a short one. It answers hours, equipment, security and location, which are the questions people ask most.

  • That is a decision with tax and legal effects that vary by state, so decide it on purpose and write down who approves exceptions.

  • One page is enough to start. Add an answer when a question comes back twice.

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