Date Issued: 01/04/2022
Purpose
To provide Permanent Heads or designates a framework for managing employee attendance during periods of extreme weather including the use of occasional remote work/leave for early departure late arrival and/or absence of employees.
Definitions
Extreme weather includes exceptional conditions such as blizzards, tornadoes, storms and floods as identified by Environment Canada. This could include conditions leading to road and highway closures.
Guidelines
Provided places of work remain open during periods of extreme weather, employees should make every effort to report to work. It is recognized that some employees may find it difficult to report to work during periods of extreme weather due to family responsibilities (e.g., school closures and the need to pick up a child), transportation problems or road conditions. Employees should discuss such issues with their manager. Subject to the operational requirements of the workplace, managers may consider occasional remote work if applicable otherwise employees should use their leave entitlements.
Each Permanent Head or designate should use their discretion concerning the ability of employees to work from home occasionally, leave early or report late to work based on operational requirements and severity of weather conditions in the affected locations. When making these decisions, Permanent Heads or designates should be guided in their decision to close offices on information from Environment Canada regarding extreme weather conditions and/or local road and highway closures. The Occasional Remote Work Guidelines can be used when considering occasional remote work as an option for employees.
Once a Permanent Head or delegate has decided to close the office due to extreme weather, employees are to be notified that they have the choice to leave the workplace. At no point should employees be directed to leave the office; it is the employee's decision to make.
If the Permanent Head or designate has provided the choice for employees to leave early and/or delay reporting for work due to extreme weather, the time away from work will not be charged against any leave credits.