As there may be some severe weather events this year, here is a timely reminder to the campus community about the adverse weather policy. The policy and other information are available here.
The adverse weather policy is always in effect. Any time you cannot attend work due to a weather related event, the policy applies. This includes having to stay home to care for a child who could not attend school due to adverse weather.
However, adverse weather leave is not intended for incidental use due to slightly inclement weather (for example, delays on arriving to work due to scraping ice off the windshield in the morning or slow traffic due to rainy conditions). It is intended for significant weather-related conditions that result in late arrivals, early departures, or other absences.
The University’s adverse weather status is designated by three condition levels:
Condition I: Classes are being held, Offices are open.
“Normal” weather conditions up to moderate snow accumulations, power outages, etc. Staff can navigate the campus and local areas safely; classes are in session and University offices are open. Unless otherwise stated, the University always functions at a Condition Level I for adverse weather.
Condition II: Classes are canceled, Offices are open.
More severe weather including heavy snow or ice with heavy accumulations; public transportation and parking are limited and sidewalks are in poor condition. Classes are canceled, but University offices are open. Emergency employees must report to work, and other employees are strongly urged to consider conditions on campus and in their residential areas, plus law enforcement reports of road conditions, before deciding whether to come to work.
Condition III: Classes are canceled, Offices are closed.
Extremely bad weather with unusually large accumulations of snow, ice or sleet. Roads are impassable, public transportation is canceled, and parking lots and sidewalks cannot be navigated. Law enforcement advises people not to travel except in an emergency. The University is closed because of the weather or other hazardous conditions; classes are canceled and offices are closed. Emergency employees must report for work, and other employees must not attempt to come to their work sites.
Unless otherwise stated, the University is always at Condition I (normal operations, everything open). During conditions I and II, you must use your own judgment in deciding whether it is safe to come to work. If the University is closed (Condition III) and your department has not required you to work, you must not report to work!
Only the Chancellor or her designee can officially close the University (Condition III). Individual Schools/Divisions do not have this authority.
Some University operations require employees to report for work in order to provide emergency services during periods of adverse weather. The department head identifies these emergency employees, and must provide them with advance written notice of this status. Please refer to the adverse weather policy for more information regarding emergency employees.
• Adverse Weather Hotline: Call 919-843-1234 for a recorded message on the adverse weather status for the University.
• Website: Adverse weather condition levels during hazardous conditions can be found at the top of the University homepage at http://www.unc.edu. Current status is available on the Alert Carolina homepage at http://www.alertcarolina.unc.edu.
• Radio: Regarding University operations and Chapel Hill buses, tune into Radio Station WNJW, 1610 am, the Travelers Information System. WUNC (91.5 FM) will also broadcast regular announcements regarding any weather-related closings.
• Television: Most local television stations will report weather-related closings during severe weather events.
Any announcement indicating the closing of State government offices due to adverse weather does not apply to the University. Be sure to watch for the difference between classes canceled (Condition II) and University closed (Condition III).
Adverse Weather Leave is not “free time” — the program is designed to assist employees in receiving pay now for time that they could not work due to adverse weather conditions. Any possible adverse weather leave is “offset” by the number of hours physically worked in a work week. You cannot code adverse weather leave if coding the leave would result in you being paid for more than your regularly scheduled number of work hours. This is true even if the University is closed.
For Condition I or Condition II events, any adverse weather leave must be made up within 12 months. For Condition III events, adverse weather leave does not need to be made up.
For more information on recording adverse weather leave, go to the TIM website.
If you have questions regarding the Adverse Weather policy, contact Employee & Management Relations in the Office of Human Resources at 919-843-3444 or emr@unc.edu.
