Table of Contents

  • Alphabetical Listing
  • Introduction
  • Attendance
  • Benefits
  • Classification
  • Definitions
  • Employee and     Labour Relations
  • General Employee     Information
  • Human Resources      Contact Numbers
  • Leave
  • Occupational Health     and Safety
  • Pay
  • Staffing
  • Travel
  • Workforce     Development

Adverse Weather Conditions and States of Emergency

Policy Statement

When places of work remain open during periods of inclement weather, employees should make every effort to report to work. Recognizing that some employees may find it difficult to report for work during periods of inclement weather due to family responsibilities, transportation problems or road conditions, the employer will make every effort to accommodate employees' requests for leave, subject to the operational requirements of the workplace.

Application

This policy applies to all employees in Government departments. Bargaining unit employees should also consult their respective collective agreements.

Definitions

Responsibilities

Department
It is the responsibility of individual departments to develop an action plan ensuring the continuation of vital departmental operations during times of adverse weather or when a state of emergency is declared and to ensure appropriate controls and protocols are in place within their departments dealing with closure of local offices.

Employee
It is the responsibility of employees to make every effort to come to work during periods of adverse weather when their place of work remains open.

State of Emergency

With the exception of those employees designated by the Employer as required to remain at or report to work, employees will receive leave with pay during the period of closure when a state of emergency has been declared within a headquarters.

The Employer may require any employee to report for duty during any period of the declared emergency.

Employees who are required to report to work will, when necessary and where possible, be supplied by the Employer with transportation to and from their place of work.

Employees who, without good reason, refuse the offer of transportation may be subject to disciplinary action.

Workplace Closures due to Adverse Weather

The decision to close Government offices due to adverse weather conditions will be made as per the procedures outlined below:
 

St. John’s / Mount Pearl Area

In the St. John’s / Mount Pearl area, any decision to close government offices or to permit employees to leave work early (without using paid / annual leave) is made by the Clerk or Deputy Clerk of Executive Council and affects all offices in the area. Departments will not close offices or permit employees to leave early unless directed to do so.

• If a decision to close offices is made before the start of the normal work day, a message to this effect will be broadcast on local radio stations and also posted on Government’s web site.

• If a decision to close offices is made after the start of a work day, this decision will be communicated to departmental Deputy Ministers for transmittal to employees.

Outside the St. John’s / Mount Pearl Area

Weather conditions vary considerably across regions of the province. As a result, the decision to close government offices in communities outside the St. John’s / Mount Pearl area will be based on local weather conditions and made by local senior managers as designated by the department’s Deputy Minister.

In cases where more than one department has employees in a community, the senior managers of these departments are expected to communicate with one another to ensure all employees in a community receive a consistent message.

Deputy Ministers should ensure they have appropriate controls and protocols in place within their departments dealing with closure of local offices.

Closures Prior to the Start of the Work Day

When appropriate, Government will make a public announcement, prior to the start of the work day, on days when storms are forecast, stating whether Government offices are opened or closed.

When the workplace is closed prior to the start of the workday, employees (other than those on approved leave or those employees designated by the Employer as required to remain at or report to work) will be credited with a full day of work.

When Government offices are closed, the Government Employee Information link (under Government Home Page, Popular Links) will contain a message about the closure. This message will only be available when Government offices are closed.

Closures During the Work Day

When the workplace is open, employees who report to work and who remain at work until the Employer officially closes Government offices and employees are notified by the Deputy Minister or designate that they may leave work early (subject to operational requirements) due to adverse weather, will be credited with a full day of work.

When the workplace is open, employees who do not report to work will be required to take one-half day of annual leave, paid leave, time off in lieu of overtime or leave without pay where the Employer officially closed Government offices and the Deputy Minister or designate notified employees to leave work prior to the lunch break.

When the workplace is open, employees who do not report to work will be required to take one day of annual leave, paid leave, time off in lieu of overtime or leave without pay where the Employer officially closed Government offices and the Deputy Minister or designate authorized employees to leave work after the lunch break.

Employees who are on sick leave, or who have arranged approved annual or paid leave, time off in lieu of overtime or leave without pay, prior to the workplace closing will be required to take that leave as previously requested and approved. However, where employees call their supervisors prior to the start of the work day and request leave because of adverse weather, and subsequently the workplace is closed, employees will be required to take one half day of leave where the closure occurred prior to the lunch break and one day of leave where the closure occurred after the lunch break.

Other Absences

Employees who live outside the headquarters area and who are prevented from reporting to work due to the closure of subsidiary roads, ferry operations, side streets, driveways, private roads or main roads outside the headquarters area, will be required to take annual leave, paid leave, time off in lieu of overtime or leave without pay.
Special circumstances which warrant employees leaving work early may be considered by the Deputy Minister and annual leave, paid leave, time off in lieu of overtime or leave without pay granted accordingly.

Last Updated: December 22, 2006
Reference: TBM 99-156; TBM 06-402