The University of Wisconsin–Madison is committed to the safety and welfare of the campus community. Inclement weather can negatively impact students, faculty, and staff, and the normal operations of the campus. This policy establishes the necessary and appropriate inclement weather policy for employees.
This policy applies to all University of Wisconsin–Madison employees, including but not limited to, Faculty, Academic Staff, University Staff and Limited Appointees.
The UW–Madison Chancellor is responsible for determining if, for the safety and welfare of students and staff, classes will be postponed or some services suspended due to inclement weather. Some university services and functions must remain in operation to maintain campus infrastructure or provide core campus services regardless of weather conditions, for example, University Housing and Dining, University Police, essential research and animal care and power plant operations.
In the event of inclement weather, employees are expected to report to work unless directed otherwise. Each employee is advised to use discretion and caution regarding their health and safety. An employee who reasonably determines that it is not safe to travel due to inclement weather will not be subject to discipline for being absent. Supervisors are expected to honor reasonable requests of employees to arrive late or to leave early because of inclement weather. Employees are expected to notify their supervisors if they cannot report to work or will report late.
Colleges, schools, divisions and other campus units may not close on their own. Deans and directors must receive authorization from the Office of the Chancellor before directing employees not to report to work or sending employees home. University child care services and functions may close, consistent with their policies and procedures due to their unique operational needs and the safety of those students.
If an employee is unable to or directed not to report to work due to inclement weather, supervisors and employees should work together to find alternative work arrangements, including working remotely and/or modifying work schedules, whenever possible.
If an employee is unable to report or directed not to report to work due to inclement weather and is unable to secure alternative work arrangements, the employee must use available annual leave (vacation or personal holiday), leave without pay, or when appropriate, accrued compensatory time to cover the absence. University staff non-exempt employees (hourly and subject to overtime requirements) must use available leave to cover each hour absent. Academic staff or university staff exempt employees (salaried and not subject to overtime requirements) should work with their supervisor to account for the absence in the manner consistent with the exempt nature of their duties. If classes are postponed, faculty should make every effort to reschedule them at a later date.
University Communications Staff will work with the chancellor to provide weather-related announcements to the campus and the media and employees should watch for weather-related announcements.
Note: Nothing in this policy shall otherwise affect the authority of the chancellor under Wis. Stat. § 36.115(3) to develop, administer, or modify UW–Madison’s HR policy as needed.
If an employee fails to notify his/her supervisor that he/she cannot report to work, will report to work late, and/or must leave work early due to inclement weather, the employee may be subject to applicable and appropriate corrective progressive discipline.
For the latest information on weather-related closings or changes to campus operations, visit: wisc.edu or @uwmadison on Twitter.
Campus bus service may be impacted by weather. For more information on service and delays, visit Madison Metro online.
Winter road condition information is available from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation online.
Campus weather forecast information can be found online at the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.
Community-wide warnings for dangerous weather are sent automatically to cell phones by some cell phone providers. For more information, check with your cell phone provider or check with Wireless Emergency Alerts.
Other forms of notification may include, but are not limited to: sirens, the Wisconsin Emergency Alert System, local media outlets via Internet, television, radio, and newspapers, cell phone applications that monitor weather, and dedicated weather radios.
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10-28-2019
