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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES

Inclement Weather and Office Closure Procedures

County offices need to have a proactive plan to keep county offices open during severe weather. Here are a few things to keep in mind: 

  1. Offices can be closed in the following situations: 
    1. Level 3 snow emergency 
    2. Commissioners close county offices
    3. Building owner closes the building and staff are not allowed to be on site.
  2. In the above cases when offices are physically closed, employees are expected to work virtually. 
    1. If an employee lives or travels through a county that is under a Level 3 snow emergency, but their office is located in a county not under a Level 3 and the county commissioners/building owners have not closed the building, and the employee chooses not to report to work or to work remotely, then that employee is required to take vacation or compensatory time. Details of these arrangements need to be determined by the employee and their immediate supervisor before the need arises
  3. Employees are encouraged to use their own best judgment in deciding whether to risk driving to the office in Level 1 or Level 2 snow emergencies. They cannot be forced to come to work; however, if the office is open and they choose not to report to work and do not work remotely, then they are required to take vacation or compensatory time. Details of these arrangements need to be determined by the employee and his or her immediate supervisor before the need arises
  4. In the above situations, if employees cannot work virtually, the short-term closure option needs to be turned on for WorkDay timesheets. 
    1. It takes a few days to turn on the short-term closure option. 
    2. Employees should report their need for the short-term closure option to their supervisor.
  5. Operations and Facilities Stewards are required to report to their area leader if the county is under a Level 3 snow emergency and/or if the county commissioners/building owners close the building where their office is located. 
  6. Operations and Facilities Stewards and area leaders may not close the office unless the above conditions are met for snow and/or severe weather emergencies and the closing is approved by the director of Operations. 

The Ohio State University Policy

Weather and other Short-Term Closing Policy 6.15 – http://hr.osu.edu/policy/policy615.pdf

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Revised – March 12, 2010; revised – February 2013
Reviewed
– March 2015; revised – December 2018
Reviewed January 2025; revised January 2025