Visitors In The Workplace

Title: Visitors In The Workplace
Approved by
Date Approved:
Effective Date: 06/03/2019
Responsible Official: Vice President of Human Resources
Responsible University Office: HR Employee Relations
Revision History: 01/01/2008; 07/01/2015; 07/01/2017
Related Legislation and University policies: Vacation Policy; Positive Corrective Action (PCA) Policy 
Review Period: 5 years
Date of Last Review
Relates to: executive staff, senior staff, and staff
Exclusions: none

Policy Statement

The university values family and work-life balance, and strives to be a family-friendly workplace. Children, family members, or friends are welcome for occasional, brief visits in the workplace. Employees may bring children to appropriate university-sponsored events. Children are allowed in the workplace when they are visiting in conjunction with a sponsored program by the department or school. Releases by their parents must be signed when they enter the program. Supervisors may approve short, non-routine visits that do not interfere with an employee’s ability to perform their work functions, the productivity of a work unit, or with the safety of employees or others. However, children may not visit the workplace if their presence conflicts with departmental policy, or federal, state, or local law.

CWRU is sensitive to employee’s needs surrounding child care; however, due to liability concerns, CWRU cannot permit children in the workplace in situations other than the short visits as described above. Children are not allowed in potentially hazardous work areas (e.g. laboratories) at any time. Also, children under the age of sixteen (16) must be accompanied by an adult in the university libraries. Supervisors may, at their discretion, grant an employee vacation time off to handle childcare needs in emergency or unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather causing school closings.

Supervisors are responsible for the enforcement of this policy in their areas. Employees who violate this policy may be subject to corrective action, up to and including termination.