UW benefited employees who wish to apply their skills and time specifically for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts (whether local or in remote locations) may request emergency leave under the following situational guidelines:

1.      Employee is “tasked” by UW to assist another agency or institution.  An example might be a bus driver requested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and sanctioned by the national Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to provide driver services supporting the relief effort.  The employee must seek approval from his or her appointing authority and may only take emergency leave with the appointing authority’s approval. In this type of case, the employee continues to be paid by UW; no annual leave is applied.  The appointing authority must notify Risk Management concerning Workers Compensation coverage if the employee will be stationed outside Wyoming.  The time limit of the commitment must be negotiated among the employee, his or her supervisor and appointing authority. 

2.      Employee volunteers to donate time to a recognized 501c3 (non-profit) agency in a non-pay status.  (Example:  Red Cross Volunteer).  The employee may, with approval of his or her supervisor and appointing authority, take absence from work up to 4 weeks per calendar year as emergency leave with pay.  Appropriate documentation of volunteer service is required.  If the employee is paid a salary or subsidy by the non-profit agency, UW will reduce the employee’s salary by the amount of the volunteer work salary or subsidy.  The employee may extend his or her absence beyond the 4 week emergency leave period by using vacation, compensatory time, or leave without pay, with the permission of his or her appointing authority.

3.      Employee volunteers in a freelance capacity (with or without pay).  With approval from his or her supervisor and appointing authority, the employee may take vacation or leave without pay, and the appointing authority will set the maximum amount of time during which the employee may be away from work.

4.      In cases where the volunteering employee uses vacation time, the employee may request donated vacation leave from other UW employees. The approvals of both the donating and receiving employees’ appointing authorities are required in writing or by e-mail. The current 352-hour cap on accrued vacation leave remains in effect and may not be exceeded.

All Hurricane Katrina-related leave requests must be processed by the UW Human Resources Department (HRD). Questions regarding this policy should be directed to HRD, Benefits Office, (307) 766-2437.