All employees are expected to arrive to work on time, work all assigned posts and scheduled shifts as directed, work all mandatory overtime, and comply with all leave procedures when requesting time off of work. Frequent tardiness and absences from work and failure to comply with department attendance procedures negatively affect the safety and security of department facilities, are discourteous and disrespectful to coworkers, and are unprofessional.
Employees may be disciplined for excessive or unauthorized absences and failure to comply with the requirements for requesting leave. For additional information refer to D2-8.1 Time and Attendance and D2-8.11 Work Schedules.
Paid leave includes sick (D2-8.3), annual (D2-8.2), compensatory (D2-8.4), and administrative leave (D2-8.5). Employees are expected to use leave only when they have the appropriate type of paid leave to cover the absence, or have been approved for leave without pay. More about leave »
Absence Approvals
Employees may be denied leave even if they have accrued paid leave balances when such leave is unscheduled or inconsistent with the needs of the worksite. Employees who have no accrued paid leave and have not been approved for leave without pay or a leave of absences without pay will be considered absent without pre or subsequent approval, or “AWOL,” for any absences not protected by state or federal law. Refer to D2-8.6 Leave Without Pay (LWOP) and Leave of Absence Without Pay (LOA) for more information. The ability to work beyond a normal scheduled shift and more than 40 hours in a work week is an essential function of all Department of Corrections employees.
Overtime
Employees who refuse to work mandated overtime may be subject to disciplinary action. All voluntary overtime must be approved prior to being worked. Failure to tuberculosis test will be given and completion of the staff information update form will be required to ensure emergency contact information is accurate including a current telephone number and home address.
Special Circumstances
During emergency situations which affect the department’s worksites, such as natural disasters or pandemics, the department must maintain safe and secure work environments. As a result of these situations, the department may assign employees new or additional duties, modify employee work schedules, require employees to wear additional personal protective equipment, and require employees to undergo additional screening or testing, depending on the nature of the emergency. These actions will be taken to ensure the safety and security of staff members, the offenders, and the public and will remain in effect only until the emergency situation has been resolved and normal operations can resume.