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Georgia Tech Non-Closure Emergency Leave Procedures

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Over the last few days, we have all faced unique challenges and uncertainty as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact our personal and professional lives. President Ángel Cabrera and Georgia Tech’s coronavirus task force communicate daily with the University System of Georgia (USG) and other state and national agencies and organizations to discuss what we can all do to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff.

Recently, the USG issued Non-Closure Emergency Leave Procedures giving USG presidents the authority to allow Leave with Pay in situations where the institution remains open but with reduced operations during an emergency. The emergency leave procedures are based on guidance issued by the Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) to assist state agencies in administering any temporary office or location closures deemed necessary due to COVID-19. USG leadership has worked closely with other state agencies to implement these additional procedures in support of this guidance.

Most operations at Georgia Tech and all USG campuses have seen a significant reduction due to COVID-19. To support employees who are impacted by these reduced operations, the USG Human Resources Administrative Practice (HRAP) Manual provisions for Inclement Weather and Other Emergencies have been amended to include these Non-Closure Emergency Leave Procedures (in accordance with Board of Regents Policy 8.2.7.7). 

Specifically, the amendment gives presidents the authority to compensate employees for hours not worked up to the equivalent of their regularly scheduled hours per week when there is not work for those employees to perform that is essential to Institute operations.

President Cabrera approved Leave with Pay in an effort to benefit as many eligible employees as possible during this emergency while also enabling the Institute to sustain on-campus services and provide business continuity. Georgia Tech will implement Non-Closure Emergency Leave procedures for eligible employees for up to 30 days effective March 30, 2020 through May 2, 2020. Institute Leadership will reassess the need for Leave with Pay on or before April 15, 2020.


Eligibility for Non-Closure Emergency Leave

Employees eligible for Leave with Pay include regular full-time and regular part-time employees (exempt/salaried and non-exempt/hourly) who:

  • are not able to perform their regular duties through telework or other remote and flexible work arrangements, and
  • are not working as essential employees in enabling the Institute to sustain essential on-campus services and operations.

Employees not eligible for Leave with Pay include the following:

  • Temporary employees
  • Student employees, and
  • Rehired retirees

Please Note: Employees not eligible for Non-Closure Emergency leave are still permitted and encouraged to perform their regular duties through telework or other remote and flexible work arrangements. Federal Work Study students will continue to receive their applicable financial aid for student employment during an emergency in accordance with Department of Education guidance.


Next Steps


Institute leadership will: 

  1. Continue to promote telework, flexible scheduling, and social distancing.
  2. Work with managers/supervisors to determine appropriate staffing for required work and implement rotational schedules.

Unit heads can contact Kim D. Harrington, Erika Gravett (erika.gravett@ohr.gatech.edu), or Kevin Merkel (kevin.merkel@ohr.gatech.edu) for assistance with implementing rotational work schedules for required staff and in utilizing leave with pay.

Our hope is enabling Leave with Pay will create as much stability as we can for our community. Thank you for your partnership as we navigate this rapidly changing situation.  

 

UPDATE:
Non-Closure Emergency Leave is set to expire on July 17, 2020. As Georgia Tech moves forward with its return to campus, the Institute will discontinue the use of Non-Closure Emergency Leave effective July 16, 2020. That means Thursday, July 16, 2020 is the last day Non-Closure Leave with Pay may be used. Posted: July 2, 2020

 

Status

  • Workflow Status:Published
  • Created By:cgrant60
  • Created:03/26/2020
  • Modified By:cgrant60
  • Modified:07/02/2020