First Responder and Fire Department Volunteers (HR21)

SUBJECT:
First Responder and Fire Department Volunteers

PURPOSE:
To establish a policy relating to the absences of employees when responding as volunteers to the local fire department or First Responders during scheduled working hours.

POLICY:
The University wishes to support the community and its volunteer fire department and First Responder organizations by making those employees who choose to serve in these capacities available during scheduled work hours when the employee’s department can accommodate such absences.

Because the employee cannot be expected to secure a leader’s approval at the time an emergency occurs and the call to respond is received, employee volunteers must first determine from the leader in charge if and when the department can accommodate the employee’s absence under these conditions. Once the employee has the leader’s approval to respond, the leader should advise the employee about his/her discretion in responding when called.

The employee will receive their regular rate of compensation for that portion of his/her regular work schedule missed due to the emergency. Compensation will be limited to no more than the employee’s regularly scheduled work hours for that particular day. The cost of this service will be borne by the department.