This guidance was originally issued in response to the California energy crisis. The principles apply to similar situations involving power shortages, weather, etc.

In the recent past, the California energy crisis and related blackouts were extensively publicized in the news. These interruptions in energy and gas supplies may force the short-term closure of departments or university operations. The purpose of this document is to explain proposed actions, in the event of energy and gas interruptions, which are in accordance with university policy and respective collective bargaining agreements.

In general, management has the right to assign duties to employees that are consistent with the employee's job description. Should a rolling blackout occur, management may reassign an employee's job duties as deemed necessary. If there is no suitable work alternative available during a blackout, management has the authority to place an employee on administrative leave with pay. The administrative leave with pay would last for the duration of the emergency (e.g. rolling blackout). In certain circumstances, it may be appropriate to release an employee from her/his duties for the duration of the emergency (e.g. one to two hours). These options and decisions are left to the sound discretion of management.

Relevant sections of collective bargaining agreements for represented staff:
 

• Librarian (LX) - Article 18
  E. LEAVES WITH PAY; 2. Emergency Leave
  An emergency leave with pay may be granted to a Librarian by the University in the event of ...a(n) emergency situation that places the health and safety of the Librarian, or members of his/her immediate family or property in jeopardy. Such leaves shall normally be of short duration.
• Nurses (NX) - Article 20
  G. LEAVES OF ABSENCE WITH PAY; 4. Authorized Emergencies
  A nurse may be granted leave with pay during regularly scheduled hours of work for the period of time authorized by the University due to...man-made emergencies.
• Health Care Professionals (HX) - Article 22; Service (SX) - Article 22; Patient Care Technical (EX) - Article 22; Research Support (RX) - Article 14; Technical (TX) - Article 16, Section F) (5);
  I. EMERGENCIES
  In the event of...man-made emergencies, an employee may be granted leave with straight-time pay during regularly scheduled hours of work for the period of time authorized by the University.
• Clerical (CX) Article 14
  F. LEAVES OF ABSENCE WITH PAY; 5. EMERGENCIES
  In the event of...man-made emergencies, an employee may be granted leave with straight time pay during regularly scheduled hours of work for the period of time authorized by the University.
• Graduate Students (BX) - Article 8
  EMERGENCY LAYOFF
  An emergency layoff is the suspension of an appointment...due to...forces outside University's control to which the University must immediately respond. The parties agree that the University may, but shall not be required to pay ASE during periods of Emergency Layoff.

Relevant portions of the contract to address emergency leave for non-exclusively represented staff:

• 46. Administrative Leave
  A. GENERAL
  Eligible employees may be granted administrative leave...because of natural or other emergencies.
• 46.D. EMERGENCIES Note 1--Authorization.
  Department heads may grant administrative leave with pay to employees affected by a natural or other emergency when authorization to do so has been given by the Chancellor or Associate Vice Chancellor—Human Resources. Such authorization has been granted.

If you have any questions, please contact your designated Employee Relations Consultant.