Approved by President
Effective Date: June 5, 2017
Responsible Division: Business and Finance
Responsible Office:  Human Resource Services
Responsible Officer:  Assistant Vice President, Human Resource Services

I.  Purpose

This policy provides a uniform method of handling weather related absences that occur when employees are prevented or delayed from getting to work, or leave work early, because of a severe storm, snow accumulation, icy roads, flooding, etc., and to provide guidelines in the event Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or University) is officially closed.

II.  Accounting for Time Missed (No Official Closedown)

When a weather-day occurs, usually some employees make it to work and others do not. MTSU does not give free time off for such absences, unless the University is officially closed, as provided in this policy. Time missed is accounted for by permitting the employee to elect to be paid for the absence by charging the time to accumulated annual leave, if applicable.

Similarly, if employees are given permission to leave work early, the work time missed is accounted for as annual leave.

III. Official Closedowns

If MTSU is officially closed, the following conditions apply:

A.  Employees in other than essential services, as determined by the supervisor:

1.  An employee shall receive pay for the part of the work schedule missed during the official closedown period in the following circumstances:

a.  Employee is at work until the closedown officially begins, irrespective of the time of arrival to work.

b.  Employee is informed not to report for work during the closedown.

2.  The status of an employee who is on approved annual or sick leave prior to the official closedown and not scheduled to work or is on a regularly scheduled day off, layoff, or leave of absence without pay does not change because there is an official closedown.

B.  Employees in essential services, as determined by the supervisor:  An employee who is required by the supervisor to work during an official closedown will be paid in accordance with Policy 802 Hours of Work.

Forms:  none.

Revisions: none.

Last Reviewed: March 2022.

References: Policy 802 Hours of Work.