Emergency Closings Policy
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Effective Date:
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November 2025
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Focus Group:
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Home Office Staff
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Purpose:
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To establish clear guidelines for employee expectations, pay practices, and safety considerations when weather events, emergencies, or unforeseen circumstances affect normal office operations.
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Guidelines:
1. General Operating Expectation
Global Outreach International will make every reasonable effort to remain open for business. However, the organization recognizes that weather conditions, utility failures, or other emergencies may create unsafe or uncertain situations for employees.
Integrated Safeguard:
2. Employee Discretion During Unofficial Closures
If concerns arise regarding safety—such as hazardous road conditions or local advisories—management may authorize supervisors to notify staff that:
Integrated Safeguard:
3. Official Emergency Closures (Full or Partial Day)
If GOI officially closes the office during the workday:
4. Communication Process
In an emergency, GOI will use one or more of the following communication channels:
Integrated Safeguard:
5. Safety Priority
Employees should never compromise personal safety to report to work. GOI encourages staff to use good judgment and err on the side of caution.
Integrated Safeguard:
Faith-Based Commitment
GOI seeks to show wisdom, care, and stewardship in responding to emergencies. Protecting our staff’s safety while maintaining ministry continuity is a shared responsibility and a reflection of our organizational values.
Global Outreach International will make every reasonable effort to remain open for business. However, the organization recognizes that weather conditions, utility failures, or other emergencies may create unsafe or uncertain situations for employees.
Integrated Safeguard:
- GOI will prioritize employee safety and clear communication while maintaining business continuity.
2. Employee Discretion During Unofficial Closures
If concerns arise regarding safety—such as hazardous road conditions or local advisories—management may authorize supervisors to notify staff that:
- The office is not officially closed,
- Employees may choose to work remotely if they feel unsafe.
Integrated Safeguard:
- Supervisors must apply this flexibility consistently and avoid penalizing employees for choosing safety.
- HR should be informed when departments implement remote-work flexibility due to safety concerns.
3. Official Emergency Closures (Full or Partial Day)
If GOI officially closes the office during the workday:
- Nonexempt employees who are on-site and working at the time of the closure will be paid for the remainder of the scheduled workday.
- Nonexempt employees who left before the official closure time will be paid only for actual hours worked or may use PTO.
- Exempt employees will receive their normal full-day pay but are expected to complete their work as conditions allow.
- This policy aligns with the FLSA requirement that exempt employees are paid for full weeks in which they perform any work.
- Supervisors should document which employees were on-site at the time of closure to ensure fairness and consistency.
- Remote work expectations must be communicated clearly to avoid confusion.
4. Communication Process
In an emergency, GOI will use one or more of the following communication channels:
- Email and text alerts
- Direct supervisor communication
- Phone trees for critical updates
Integrated Safeguard:
- HR should maintain updated contact information for all employees to ensure reliable communication.
5. Safety Priority
Employees should never compromise personal safety to report to work. GOI encourages staff to use good judgment and err on the side of caution.
Integrated Safeguard:
- Employees who make safety-based decisions in good faith will not face disciplinary action.
Faith-Based Commitment
GOI seeks to show wisdom, care, and stewardship in responding to emergencies. Protecting our staff’s safety while maintaining ministry continuity is a shared responsibility and a reflection of our organizational values.