Inclement Weather Policy

Procedures for Non-Union Staff

Because Bennington College is a residential campus and must provide services and meals for students and continue essential operations, the College is never officially closed. As such, staff should make every effort to come to work during inclement weather, but should not jeopardize their safety in doing so.

However, due to the fact that individual employees are affected differently during inclement weather by virtue of their residence location or transportation requirements, the College recognizes that certain employees may be delayed in their arrival or unable to travel to work during such situations.

An employee should notify his/her supervisor if he/she expects to be delayed in arrival at work. If an employee wishes to leave early due to inclement weather, he/she is required to notify his/her direct supervisor prior to leaving. For nonexempt staff, the loss of time due to the weather, or other emergent condition, will be made up as mutually agreed to by the employee and his/her supervisor or taken as vacation time. For exempt staff, the loss of a full day due to the weather, or other emergent condition, will be taken as vacation time.

We have established an internal employee communications hotline to assist staff with obtaining information about operations during inclement weather and other unique emergent situations. Employees can contact the hotline at 802-442-5401 or x8818 and listen to a recorded message regarding College operations.

In any situation where telephone systems are inoperable and an employee is unable to make initial contact with the College, the employee is expected to continue to attempt such contact until successful.

Procedures for Union Staff

Because Bennington College is a residential campus and must provide services and meals for students and continue essential operations, the College is never officially closed. As such, staff should make every effort to come to work during inclement weather, but should not jeopardize their safety in doing so.

However, due to the fact that individual employees are affected differently during inclement weather by virtue of their residence location or transportation requirements, we would like to remind staff of the following:

• An employee should notify his/her supervisor if he/she expects to be delayed in arrival at work. If the employee is unable to reach his/her direct supervisor, the employee should notify Security. Time loss due to inclement weather conditions will be made up as mutually agreed to by the employee and his/her supervisor.
• If an employee wishes to leave early due to inclement weather conditions, he/she is required to notify his/her direct supervisor and any remaining time on the shift will be charged to either accrued vacation or leave time. If no such time is available, the time will be unpaid.
• In the event that an employee is unable to get to work due to inclement weather conditions, he/she is required to notify his/her direct supervisor and the day will be charged to either accrued vacation or leave time. If the employee is unable to reach his/her direct supervisor, the employee should notify Security. If sufficient vacation or leave time is not available to cover the absence, the day will be unpaid.

We have established an internal employee communications hotline to assist staff with obtaining information about operations during inclement weather and other unique emergent situations. Employees can contact the hotline at 802-442-5401 x8818 and listen to a recorded message regarding College operations.

In any situation where telephone systems are inoperable and an employee is unable to make initial contact with the College, the employee is expected to continue to attempt such contact until successful. Please refer to the bargaining agreement for further clarification of these procedures.