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September 19 , 2005

Staff granted time off for hurricane relief
Emory employees have expressed great interest in having paid time off to volunteer for relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, or in donating personal leave time back to the University in order for Emory to make an equivalent cash contribution to relief agencies.

Emory’s leave structure unfortunately does not make it possible for employees to donate the cash equivalent of leave time to the University. The University is able, however, to grant special paid leave to staff other than faculty for volunteer work in the extraordinary circumstances facing our country. Any staff member will be granted up to five days of paid release time to participate in relief efforts without being charged for accrued vacation or sick leave.

Decisions to grant volunteer release time will be made at departmental levels. Release time may be used only to assist recognized relief agencies like the American Red Cross, the United Methodist Committee on Relief or the Salvation Army. Verification of time spent in relief work will be required from the respective agency at which the employee volunteers.

Staff members with accrued personal leave may also use that leave at any time, with supervisors’ approval.
The University recognizes that the timing of this urgent need for relief work may place constraints on the ability of some departments to grant leave now. All indications are, however, that the work of supporting evacuees and rebuilding the devastated areas along the Gulf Coast will take many weeks or months, and departments and employees are encouraged to consider how to volunteer at later times as well—for instance, during fall break, winter term break, or spring break.

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