2112-2

Temporary Emergencies
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During temporary emergencies the Georgia Department of Transportation is responsible for assuring the safety of employees, contractors and visitors at GDOT offices and facilities. Additionally, circumstances may arise which interfere with the conduct of normal business. It is, therefore, sometimes necessary that employees directly affected by the temporary emergency be excused from duty for such time as may be appropriate or necessary.

Definition:

A temporary emergency shall be defined as any situation that would require the closing of a GDOT office or facility in order to assure the safety of employees, contractors, visitors or the general public or because circumstances have caused a need to discontinue normal business activities. The situation may occur at the office or facility or in the surrounding area. Examples of temporary emergencies shall include, but shall not be limited to:

Policy:

  1. General Office – Office Heads are responsible for notifying the Commissioner whenever a temporary emergency occurs in their area of responsibility. When it is determined that closure is necessary, the Commissioner shall designate the offices or facilities directly affected and the hours of closure.

  2. District Offices – District Engineers are responsible for notifying the Commissioner whenever a temporary emergency occurs in their area of responsibility. When it is determined that closure is necessary, the Commissioner shall designate the offices or facilities directly affected and the hours of closure. If the temporary emergency is such that immediate action is required, the appropriate District Engineer shall designate the offices or facilities directly affected and the hours of closure. Such action by a District Engineer shall be immediately reported to the Commissioner.

Communication of Closure:

The Commissioner or the appropriate District Engineer shall notify affected employees of any closure made necessary by a temporary emergency and any associated instructions regarding return to work.

Employees Affected by Closure:

Employees who are absent from duty because of the closure of an office or facility due to a temporary emergency will not be charged leave or leave without pay. Such employees will receive their regular compensation for the time they would otherwise have been on duty.

Essential employees required to work during a temporary emergency when non-essential employees are excused from duty or who are required to work additional hours are not eligible for additional time off or compensations other than that authorized by DOT overtime and compensatory time policy (see TOPPS 2235-1).

Employees Not Affected by Closure:

Employees who are not scheduled to work, who are on paid or unpaid leave or who have been approved for paid or unpaid leave are not affected by a closure due to a temporary emergency. Example: An employee scheduled for eight (8) hours of annual leave for a day on which their DOT office is closed for three (3) hours due to a temporary emergency will still be charged eight (8) hours of annual leave.

Employees whose DOT office or work location is not directly affected by a temporary emergency that necessitate the closure of another DOT office or work location will not be granted time off that is authorized for employees directly affected by a closure. Example: The Traffic Management Center is closed for two (2) hours due to a water main break and the employees of the TMC are excused from duty. Central Office employees on Capitol Hill who are unaffected by the water main break will not receive equivalent time off.

Reference:

Georgia Merit System, Rules of the State Personnel Board, Rule 18 (Leave and Holidays), Section 18.900
FLSA Overtime/Compensatory Time Policies, 2235-1

Document History:
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