From Ithaca to Asheville, Remote Duke Staff Are Finding Each Other

That kind of connection is precisely what the Remote Work Employee Resource Group (ERG) aims to foster with remote social and programming committees that function alongside an advocacy arm of the group. About 260 Duke employees are members of the Remote Work ERG, which officially launched in 2024.

The Remote Work ERG is one of 17 official Employee Resource Groups or Affinity Groups at Duke. Other groups represent mothers, LGBTQ+ employees and allies, military leaders, disabled workers and others, promoting inclusion while fostering connections among colleagues and the wider community. Membership in Duke's ERGs is open to all employees and may not be limited based on an employee's race, national origin, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected category.

Approximately 1,570 Duke employees work fully remotely, either in North Carolina or one of 31 other states or the District of Columbia approved by Duke for remote work.

“It’s a good way for us to build community as remote workers, to allow us all to connect with each other socially, learn from each other’s positive experiences and challenges, and serve as a resource that this entire community has access to,” Sledge said.

Three committees form the Remote Work ERG to help members feel connected to one another and to Duke. The social committee sparks conversation in a virtual watercooler group in Microsoft Teams, such as a recent “Question of the Week” request for pet photos that asked members to share photos of their “furry co-workers.” The committee also hosts Zoom coffee breaks where co-workers mingle in breakout rooms and plans remote meetups for colleagues.

The programming committee organizes webinars and Q&A sessions that spotlight resources tailored for remote workers.

Meanwhile, the advocacy committee gathers feedback and shares ideas around Duke’s remote work policy.

LaTarsha Spencer, Research Program Leader in Pediatric Transplant and Cellular Therapy, joined the Remote Work ERG as soon as she heard about it. She was hired by Duke in 2023 from an in-person position at Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center and continues to live in Texas.

“I think I’ve been so used to talking to people and walking by and having water cooler conversations that I missed those things when you’re more isolated working remotely,” Spencer said. “I was trying to get a feel for what the community is like and what the culture is like so you can feel connected to the mission and connected to your job.”

Through Duke’s ERG, Spencer learned about resources for out-of-state employees, such as whom to contact with IT or computer questions, tools such as Microsoft OneNote that potentially could make her workflow more efficient, and opportunities for interaction at Duke, such as a recent artificial intelligence webinar series.

“I just love learning in general,” Spencer said. “And I love that people are just sharing things that are happening around Duke because we all can’t know everything all the time.”

Sledge, a General Accounting Manager who co-chairs the Remote Work ERG with Jeni Reininga-Craven, has worked remotely since he was first hired by Duke in 2020. At the time, he lived in Durham but moved to Asheville in 2023 to be closer to his wife’s family as the couple planned to start growing their family. The couple’s first child, a son, was born in July.

“Kerry is officially a father! Share the love here,” Reininga-Craven wrote in the Teams Water Cooler channel on July 17.

A flurry of virtual congratulations and emojis followed, including advice to “soak up all the newborn squish cuddles.”  

If you’re interested in joining the Duke Remote Work ERG, visit the group’s website for more information or search for “Remote Work ERG” in Microsoft Teams to join the Teams group.

Send story ideas, shout-outs and photographs through our story idea form or write working@duke.edu.

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