Work Location Compliance

International & Out-of-State Work Requirements

These requirements apply to any employee performing compensated work on behalf of the University of Michigan, including:

• Faculty 

• Staff

• Research Fellows (Postdocs)

• GSIs, GSRAs, and GSSAs

• Temporary employees (including student temps)

🚨If you are being paid by U-M and performing work duties as required for your position, these rules apply to you.

International Work is Not Permitted Without Prior Approval

Individuals performing paid work as a U-M employee may not work outside of the United States or from a U.S. Territory without prior written approval from central administration, including the Office of General Counsel (OGC) and University HR. International labor laws, tax laws, export control regulations, and immigration requirements make overseas employment complex and high-risk. Employment outside of the U.S. requires review, consultation, and permission from central administration (OGC, University HR, others) prior to extending an offer/approving an arrangement. Do not begin work from outside the U.S. under any circumstances without written approval. Approval is not guaranteed. Please reach out to umsi.human.resources@umich.edu with any questions or if you are considering working outside the U.S. UMSI HR will facilitate the process to request approval. 

This includes work conducted as part of a U-M appointment, such as:

• Working remotely while traveling internationally

• Beginning a U-M appointment while physically located outside the U.S.

• Continuing U-M job responsibilities while temporarily abroad

• Performing research, administrative, instructional, or operational duties from another country under a U-M appointment as part of your employment as a U-M employee.

What is Allowable?

• Activities unrelated to a U-M employment appointment

• Work performed for a separate employer or institution that is not connected to a U-M appointment (individuals are responsible for complying with applicable laws in those circumstances)

• Students conducting work on a fellowship

• Performing job duties when abroad, short-term (a week or less), at a conference. However, if it's just personal travel and in no way related to your work for the university, you need to use accrued paid time off.

➡️  If you hold a U-M appointment and are performing duties tied to that appointment, this policy applies.

Faculty Exception

Faculty do not have to go through the university’s centralized remote work agreement review process when they are:

• On sabbatical or scholarly activity leave

• Engaged in research collaboration or other academic work that is part of their normal faculty responsibilities

• Working in a typical hybrid academic pattern (for example, grading or preparing course materials while otherwise teaching or working in person)

However, faculty must still comply with applicable export control regulations.

Work Outside the State of Michigan (Within the U.S.)

Employees working from a state other than Michigan may trigger state and local tax obligations for both the employee and the university. Work outside the state of Michigan requires additional tax paperwork to be completed. If the employee is working in another state for 30 or more days in a calendar year, it is the employee's responsibility to submit State Tax Withholding forms to Payroll to have taxes withheld for the state in which they are performing services. It is also the employee's responsibility to confirm local income tax obligations and to make quarterly estimated tax payments to their locality for these situations.

Employees may need to consult with a tax advisor regarding their personal tax situation. 

Supervisors and employees should notify UMSI HR if an employee will be performing U-M employment duties outside Michigan for an extended period, so that employees have the appropriate documentation on file.