TO: Vice Presidents, Deans, Department Heads

FROM: Kevin Wm. Wildes, S.J., President

DATE: 18 November 2005

SUBJECT: Return to Work

We have received quite a few questions from department heads and from staff about when they should return to work and, more specifically, what happens if they do not return on a particular date.

I would like each department to be sensitive to individual situations. However, I hope that judgments will be made with fairness and consistency. I hope the following information will help us treat staff members appropriately.

* Many staff employees have been working continuously since the hurricane.
* Some staff were required to return no later than November 7.
* All other staff employees have been notified via the internet, e-mail, and phone messaging that they should report no later than November 28, unless they are notified by their supervisor to report earlier.
* A staff employee who is cannot or who is unwilling to report by November 28 (or an earlier date as requested by their supervisor) will be placed on vacation. (Vacation has continued to accrue since the hurricane so everyone will have some vacation accrued.) Once vacation is exhausted, the employee will be placed on unpaid leave until the end of December (November 28th for Physical Plant and University Police). Benefits will continue until then. Naturally, employees will be expected to pay their portion of the premiums for this time period.
* Staff employees who have not returned by January 2, 2006 (November 28th for Physical Plant and University Police), will be terminated.

Because we will not be using time sheets until January, HR will provide a weekly report to departments beginning November 28 asking you to identify who has returned to work, and the pay status of those who have not returned. In addition, you will need to report any overtime worked by non-exempt employees on this report.

Again, I hope that department heads will balance judgment with fairness and consistency. They should consult with the appropriate Vice President and keep them informed about their judgments.

On a related note, I decided this week to cancel the January 2 holiday, so the winter closing will end on January 1 with everyone reporting on Monday, January 2. I think this is important so that we will be fully up and running by 9 January.

Again, I want to thank everyone for their help and co-operation at this time so that we can move the University towards its normal life.