President Barbara R. Snyder today announced a campuswide pilot program to provide employees early release on Friday afternoons this summer. Launched with the unanimous support of President’s Cabinet, the initiative represents an effort to reward members of the university community for the exemplary dedication and service that has allowed Case Western Reserve to achieve unprecedented progress across multiple areas.
“In an ideal world, we would be able to acknowledge the tremendous value that many of our employees add through significant increases in compensation,” President Snyder said. “Because recent years’ economic constraints have precluded providing such deserved recognition, we considered it imperative that we not let another year pass without taking some major steps to convey how much we appreciate the dedication demonstrated by the members of our community every day.”
Under the president’s directive, employees will have the opportunity to leave work at 3 p.m. on eight designated Fridays in June and July—without any commensurate decrease in compensation. In some instances, offices will not be able to allow all staff to leave at the same time on the same day; in these cases, supervisors will work with employees to ensure all individuals are able to take off the designated hours at some other time each week. For those units where staff work shifts throughout the day and night, supervisors will develop alternative arrangements to ensure that the designated paid time off is still provided. Vice President for Human Resources Carolyn Gregory already has begun working to develop alternative options, and supervisors with questions may contact her for more details.
President Snyder noted that compensation had emerged as a paramount concern across three sets of surveys conducted during this academic year. Concerns related not only to economic impacts, but also sentiments regarding how the institution valued employee efforts. Some also suggested that, if larger raises were not possible, the university should consider other ways to convey appreciation. In light of the enormous positive feedback officials received after winter break’s calendar change to provide more paid time off, thoughts quickly turned to ways to implement similar initiatives.
“No season at Case Western Reserve can be considered slow,” President Snyder said, “but the summer’s demands are somewhat less intense. I cannot say for certain whether this effort will succeed, but it deserves a try.”
This program applies only for the summer of 2015. University leaders will conduct a comprehensive assessment of its positive and negative impacts this fall, and report back to the community on their findings.
President Snyder acknowledged that the initiative applies primarily to staff, and that faculty also cited concern regarding compensation. University leaders are exploring additional opportunities to address those issues as well.
The designated “early release” Fridays are: June 5, 12, 19 and 26, and July 10, 17, 24 and 31.
Early release applies to full-time employees only. Part-time employees, employees who have a compressed work schedule or those who are not normally scheduled to work on Fridays are not eligible.
Guidelines associated with the policy are as follows:
- Supervisors should arrange for coverage of their offices as necessary, and in a way that does not result in overtime expenses.
- Full-time staff who have pre-approved vacation for the mornings of any of the early release Fridays will use a half day of vacation on those days. The number of hours for a half day will vary depending on whether an employee works a 37-1/2 hour or a 40-hour workweek. The time provided on the afternoons of the early dismissal Fridays is not considered vacation time; therefore, the time does not accumulate and nor is it paid out when an employee leaves the University.
- Employees who call off sick on any of the designated Fridays will be required to take a full sick day.
- Summer hours do not apply to employees who are on an approved leave of absence from the University.
