Policy Statement and Reason
For the purpose of this policy, employees include California faculty and staff unless otherwise indicated in sections below. All provisions of this policy apply, except that for employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement, this policy does not create any benefits not expressly provided by that collective bargaining agreement and if there are inconsistencies between this policy and the collective bargaining agreement, the terms of the collective bargaining agreement will govern.
The College provides up to fourteen (14) days of unpaid leave per calendar year to employees who are required to perform emergency duty and/or train as volunteer firefighters, reserve peace officers or emergency rescue personnel. This policy complies with California law.
Policy Guidelines
Eligibility
Regular full-time, regular part-time and temporary employees who are volunteer firefighters, reserve peace officers or emergency rescue personnel are immediately eligible for Emergency Responder Leave.
Notification and Documentation
Employees must provide advance notice to their supervisors that they are volunteer firefighters, reserve peace officers or emergency rescue personnel. Employees must notify their supervisors, as soon as possible, of their need to take Emergency Responder Leave and may be required to submit documentation verifying the need for such leave.
Use of Personal or Vacation Time
- Non-Exempt: Non-exempt staff employees must use available personal and/or vacation time for Emergency Responder Leave. Non-exempt staff employees may take Emergency Responder Leave as unpaid if they have no available personal and vacation time.
- Exempt: Exempt staff employees are paid a salary and receive the same amount of pay every pay period, regardless of how many hours they work. They do not receive overtime pay. When not working for more than half a day, exempt staff employees must use available personal time and/or vacation time. Exempt staff employees may take Emergency Responder Leave as unpaid if they have no available personal and vacation time.
- Faculty Employees: For foreseeable absences, Faculty must provide the Chair with advance written notice and must receive prior approval when absent for more than two sessions or when a weekly class is missed more than once in order to coordinate coverage or makeup sessions. In the case of unreported and/or excessive absences, the Chair notifies the Dean.
Definitions
- Emergency rescue personnel: Any person who is a member of a fire department or firefighting agency of the federal or State of California government, a city, county, district, public or municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state, sheriff/police department, private fire department, etc., whether that person is a volunteer or partly paid or fully paid.
Other Information
Related Policies
Key Offices to Contact
Please contact Human Resources for further information regarding this policy and its implementation.
Links to Procedures or Forms
Not applicable
The contents of this policy are informational only and are not conditions of employment. This policy does not create any contractual obligations or alter the at-will employment of the College’s at-will employees. Emerson College reserves the right to modify, revoke, suspend, terminate, or change any and all policies and procedures at any time, with or without notice, as consistent with state and federal law.
Policy Effective Date: May 2019
