Town of Georgetown, DE Inclement Weather

In most cases of inclement weather, all Town offices will open and remain open for business during regularly scheduled hours.

When inclement weather is severe enough to create a safety hazard for employees or to cause extremely poor road conditions, each department head shall exercise his/her judgment in assessing employee tardiness.

Employees who call in and are unable to come to work may have the option of using vacation, comp time or leave without pay to cover the normal working hours missed as a result of the weather emergency. If an employee chooses comp time, and does not have comp time accrued, that employee will be advanced comp time with the understanding that those hours missed due to the weather emergency will be made up within two weeks of the weather emergency

(4)

An employee who calls in sick during inclement weather may be required, at the discretion of the supervisor, to provide a doctor's certificate to substantiate charging the absence to sick leave. An employee who fails to bring in the required certificate when requested to do so shall have the time reported as leave without pay.

(5)

These provisions are subject to labor agreements, when applicable.

Closing of offices during the day. When extreme inclement weather necessitates the closing of offices after the work day has begun, the following will apply:

All employees not designated as emergency employees will be excused from work. For the remainder of the workday these employees will be placed on excused leave of absence with pay.

Each employee designated as an emergency employee shall remain on duty for the duration of his/her regular shift or revert to his/her assigned emergency shift, if appropriate.

Individuals who called in and were placed on vacation leave status will be charged such leave for the entire day. The option of requiring a doctor's certificate for a reported sick leave shall continue to be available to a supervisor. Individuals who depart on vacation leave prior to official announcement will be charged such leave the entire remainder of the day.

Closing the office before the start of the workday. When inclement weather prevents the opening of offices for the day, the following will apply:

Employees will be notified of the closing of offices by the procedures outlined in § 29-75D, Public Announcements.

Each emergency employee shall report to his/her normal shift, as appropriate.

All nonemergency employees are excluded from reporting to work. These employees will be placed on excused leave of absence with pay for their entire workday.

(4)

Employees on previously approved leave status (vacation, sick, etc.) will remain on such leave status.

In the event a department head determines that it necessary for nonemergency employees to remain at or report to work after offices are closed because of inclement weather, then he/she may direct such employees to do so. Such employees will be paid in accordance with the same policies governing emergency employees.

Essential employee compensation. When inclement weather prevents the opening of offices for the day, and essential employees are required to work, the following will apply:

[Added 2-9-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-5]

Essential employees are compensated at their regular hourly rate of pay, plus equal time off for their scheduled shift. If they are required to work additional shifts or hours in excess of the normal work schedule, they are compensated according to existing rules governing overtime, as set forth in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Vacation and sick leave will not prevent an employee from receiving overtime when within the payroll period inclement weather occurs.