Suspended Operations
On-campus operations may be suspended when public health, property or safety is jeopardized by an emergency. The suspension may affect the Olympia Campus, the Tacoma Campus, both campuses, or a particular building or office. A suspension of operations is a temporary situation which will be ended when it is safe to resume normal operations.
Employee Expectations
Employees designated as “emergency” and “essential” personnel, as defined in the respective collective bargaining agreements, will work on campus and continue to provide services due to the nature of their work responsibilities. Employees who are “required” personnel will be identified and notified by their supervisor as far in advance as is reasonable and practical and will report to work on campus as directed. The determination of which employees will be required will be dependent upon the circumstances of the emergency. All other employees are expected to work remotely and will not report to work on the site where operations are suspended. Employees who work remotely during a period of suspended operations will not be required to have a signed telework agreement in place prior to performing work.
Leave Reporting and Compensation
Any employee who is on approved leave for all or part of a suspended operations event will not have their leave restored. Compensation and leave requirements for represented staff and faculty will be in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Non-represented classified staff will comply with WAC 357-31-265. Temporary employees who are represented individuals and are required to work during suspended operations will be compensated according to the relevant collective bargaining agreement. Student employees and non-represented temporary employees will be paid for all hours worked during periods of suspended operations.
Employees who are exempt from the overtime pay provisions, and are not otherwise considered classified employees, are covered by the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Therefore, although employees are expected to work remotely, if the college suspends operations for less than a full work week, it must pay an overtime-exempt employee the full salary for any week in which the employee performs any work. This will be done without regard to the number of days worked, because deductions may not be made for time when work is not available.
Authority
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) holds the primary responsibility for designating a period of suspended operations for all or part of the college. If the CAO is unavailable, the President or the President’s designee will make the decision. When a suspended operations decision needs to be made during normal teaching hours, defined as 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and weekends, the CAO will consult with the Vice Provost for Academic Operations and the Dean of Students before reaching a determination. Under certain circumstances the CAO may make different decisions for day and evening classes. Determinations of suspended operations will be made as far in advance of scheduled operations as is reasonably possible. Each college division will follow its own procedures for implementing a period of suspended operations once it has been declared.
Weather Events and Evergreen Campuses
During extreme weather events, the Olympia Campus will frequently adhere to the Olympia School District’s decisions regarding suspended operations. The Tacoma Campus will normally follow the direction provided by the Tacoma School District. The Dean of Evergreen Tacoma will have the authority to make determinations about weather-related suspended operations at the Tacoma Campus in consultation with the Academic Vice President and Provost.
Notification
Every effort will be made to provide communication regarding suspended operations by 5:00 a.m. for daytime operations and by 3:00 p.m. for evening activities. Information about suspended operations during weather events will be provided to local television and radio stations, posted on Evergreen’s external website, distributed through Evergreen’s social media platforms, sent via Inside Evergreen email, and transmitted via text and/or email through the Omnilert system (previously referred to as the e2 campus network.) Information about the college’s operating status will also be posted on the Evergreen website and available on the college’s recorded message line, 360-867-6000.