Duke Employees Reminded To Review Severe Weather Plan

During severe weather or emergency conditions, it is necessary that Duke University and Health System maintain essential services, including the running of the hospital, student dormitories and research facilities and providing necessary support and administrative services.

Because of these responsibilities, it is important that Duke faculty and staff be prepared to operate safely and perform essential services efficiently during these conditions. The severe weather and emergency conditions policy, described below, was established to ensure appropriate staffing and effective planning for those emergency periods.

Service Categories and Support Services

To ensure that Duke maintains essential services and operations during severe weather, all jobs are categorized into three service categories: Essential Service, Reserve Service and Delayed Service. Staff members and supervisors should confirm the service category assignment for each employee and review responsibilities for when the severe weather policy is activated.

-- For jobs classified as Essential Service, you must report to or remain at work when the severe weather policy is activated.

-- For jobs classified as Reserve Service, staff will be assigned a status at the time the severe weather policy is activated.

-- For jobs classified as Delayed Service, you do not report to work or remain at work when the severe weather policy is activated.

In addition, each department is responsible for determining and communicating support services that will be provided for Essential Service staff, including child care, meal passes, sleeping arrangements, parking and transportation.

Compensation

When the severe weather policy is active, all hourly-paid staff designated by their supervisors as Essential Service will receive a 10 percent base pay premium for hours worked on-site during any shift. Exempt staff are paid a fixed monthly salary as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act and are not eligible to receive the 10 percent base pay premium.

Absence

If you are absent from work when the severe weather policy has been activated, you may use accrued vacation, discretionary holidays or Paid Time Off (PTO) from the short-term bank to cover the absence. If your job is classified as Essential Service and you are absent when the severe weather policy has been activated, your absence will be considered an unscheduled absence. If you are an hourly-paid staff member and have prior approval from your supervisor, you may also perform your job functions off-site or make up missed work time within three months.

Additional Information

To find out if the severe weather plan has been activated or for updated information, the following phone numbers are provided based on where you work:

Duke University and Medical Center: 684-INFO (4636)

Duke University Hospital: 681-SNOW (7669)

Durham Regional Hospital: 470-SNOW (7669)

Raleigh Community Hospital: 954-3003

Non-clinical staff in the PRMO: 620-5005

Clinical staff in the PRMO: 613-7650

Private Diagnostic Clinic: 613-7650

More information regarding the severe weather and emergency conditions policy can be found at www.hr.duke.edu/weather.