[OPLINLIST] snow days

[huizenge@oplin.org]

I think that Deborah's solution is very sensible.  In NW Ohio we don't get
the heavy snow that you get in Geauga County, but our County is very
rural.  The blowing and drifting of the roads is a big factor here.  We
also do close if our county is  at a "Level 3" snow emergency.  (You could
get ticketed if you are out driving around.) I do think that being able to
use personal (or sick) days is very reasonable.  I also think that being
able to make of the time is also a sensible solution.
At the library where I used to work, one of our staff members had the
sewer back up in her home (this was also weather related)and she was
permitted to use sick leave.  (Actually in that case, I am sure that
problem DID make her sick!)
I agree that we shouldn't operate like schools - we need to be open
whenever possible, but if the weather is very bad, we should stay off the
roads so that the plows can get the roads cleaned.  (As I said, we are in
a rural area, which is very different than living in a larger community.)
Georgi Huizenga, Harris-Elmore Public Library

> Ms. Thorne:
>
> A message from snow country - Geauga County Public Library.  Our staff
> members who receive time off benefits (sick, vacation, personal, etc.) are
> permitted to use up to three days per year of personal time when they are
> unable to come to work due to the weather.  See our attached policies.
>
> We address this issue with our staff by putting the responsibility on them
> to make the decision whether it is safe for them to come to work or not.
> If
> they don't feel safe, they shouldn't come to work and we do not think any
> the less of the employees.
>
> If the employee does not get sick or vacation time (strictly hourly) we
> permit him to work more hours later in the week, if possible, so that he
> will work his normal number of hours to receive a full paycheck.  If he
> prefers not to work the hours, he is not paid for them.
>
> I tell our staff members that the incentive to come to work in bad weather
> is that we are here to serve the public and we are an important service.
> When it snows here (and Chardon gets a lot of snow!) patrons need their
> reading materials and come to the library to get them.  Supermarkets,
> stores
> and banks don't close because of snow; are we less important?  If the
> others
> do close, that is a good guide for us to use as well in making decisions
> about staying open.
>
> If our staff members think we should behave like schools, they are wrong.
> Schools are in the transportation business; we are not.  If we value what
> we
> do, we come to work to do our jobs whenever possible.
>
> Now I will get off my soapbox.
>
> I also subscribe to the belief that driving in bad weather in the dark is
> very different from driving in the light.  As a result, on rare occasions,
> we have closed the libraries at 4 or 5 pm so that our staff members can
> get
> home during the light when the sheriff and weather services predict
> continuing heavy snows and white-out.
>
> Debbie O'Connor
> Director
> Geauga County Public Library
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Laura Thorne [mailto:thornela at oplin.org]
> Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 9:55 AM
> To: oplinlist at oplin.org
> Subject: [OPLINLIST] snow days
>
> How does your library handle employees who cannot make it in to work, for
> weather-related reasons?  Do you make them take it as a vacation day (if
> they earn vacation)?  Right now I have an employee whose road is blocked
> by
> downed power lines and trees.  Obviously she is not able to come into work
> but should she be paid when other people are able to come in?  What would
> be
> the incentive to come to work in bad weather?
>
> Laura Thorne
> Director
> Jackson City Library
>
>
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