Inclement Weather Policy

Policy Overview

Harvard University allows for individual departmental closures or delayed openings based on local decisions made by senior management staff. Confirmation of a departmental closure or delayed opening is the responsibility of the employee. Staff must contact the Office of the University CIO, Human Resources Listen Only Mailbox to verify that the department is open for business.

Closure Process

Senior management staff will collaborate as early as possible to determine whether to close the Office of the University CIO or delay opening the office based on weather developments, including the overall geographic location of bad weather.

Departmental Communication

A decision to close or have a delayed opening may be communicated to staff via the manager/employee relationship or (recommended) by calling the CIO, Human Resources Listen Only Mailbox, 617-495-5314, #2. A message will be posted informing staff that a decision has been reached. If there is no message posted consider the department open.

Employee Decision Not to Report to Work

Unless the Office of the University CIO is officially closed, employees are expected to be at work unless they believe unsafe conditions exist due to their particular circumstances. In some situations, with supervisory approval it may be possible for an employee to work from home. If employees are not able to make up missed time and wish to be paid, they may use their personal days or vacation time. Please note that, should an Overtime Eligible staff member choose to make up missed time, the time must be made up during the same week. If the office is open and a staff member chooses to leave early or come to work late due to inclement weather, this same policy will apply. If predicted inclement weather does not occur, staff should report to work.

Time Reporting and Absence Management

Whenever the office is officially closed (either for the day, or a delayed opening or early closing), the time is considered "excused" for all employees. In the event of a departmental closure, Overtime Eligible staff should report the day as an “Excused Absence” via PeopleSoft Absence Management and not enter hours for the day on their Timesheet. The process for a delayed opening would be the same.

Exempt staff should also report the day as an “Excused Absence” via Absence Management

For More Information

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of the University CIO, Human Resources Office at 495-1425.