Formerly Executive Memorandum 86-77
Initially approved April 1, 1986
Revised January 7, 2020
Policy Topic: Personnel
Administering Office: Human Resources
It is the policy of Western Carolina University to grant leave with pay to employees for time spent in volunteer emergency and rescue service activities to include firefighting, rescue squad, or other related emergency services.
The activities covered by the policy are ones involving imminent danger to life or property within a specified area around the University. Administrative, training, and other duties that can be scheduled for non-working hours are not covered. The area covered is that within a maximum distance of thirty (30) miles from the University and is described in mutual aid agreements between volunteer emergency service organizations and governing bodies in Jackson, Haywood, Macon, and Swain Counties. Typically, University employees who are emergency service volunteers will be responding to emergency calls in a geographic area that covers approximately four (4) to five (5) miles.
An employee who intends to request leave with pay for volunteer emergency and rescue activities must submit to his/her supervisor a statement attesting to membership in an eligible volunteer emergency services organization.
An employee who abuses this policy may be denied future coverage by it. The University reserves the right to deny time off for volunteer emergency and rescue duties when job-related duties demand that the employee remain at the work place. This policy should not be construed to permit compensatory time off during normal working hours for time spent in volunteer emergency and rescue activities during non-working hours.
This policy shall be reviewed and revised as necessary every four (4) years.
North Carolina Office of State Human Resources “Other Management Approved Leave” Policy