December 18, 1998

As the winter season approaches, New Englanders can expect some rough weather ahead, from blustery winds and blizzards to ice and freezing rain. As part of the MGH's preparation for weather emergencies, employees are encouraged to review the hospital's Severe Weather Conditions Policy.

The policy stipulates that employees who come to work during storms will get paid for hours worked; employees who do not come to work will be charged earned time. If employees are dismissed by a supervisor once they have arrived, they will be paid for the remainder of the shift.

Supervisors have discretion in staffing during a storm but should have a plan in place for their unit to remain open. If a supervisor wishes to close a unit, he or she first must get approval from the appropriate vice president.

As a 24-hour, 365-days-a-year operation, the MGH must provide services to patients during even the worst of storms. Many hospital areas – including the Emergency Department and the OR, inpatient units and support departments such as Dietetics, Telecommunications and Materials Management – always remain open and may require additional staffing during disasters. It is a good idea for supervisors to check whether such areas need extra help before they send their own employees home.

From time to time, such as in cases of severe blizzards, the pay policy has been adjusted to reward employees who come to work. This change is at the sole discretion of James J. Mongan, MD, president of the MGH.

Jeff Davis, senior vice president for Human Resources, reminds employees to reserve earned time for those stormy days when it's most judicious to stay at home. "We always encourage employees to use their best judgment during severe weather and want them to consider their personal safety when travel conditions are poor," he says.

For procedure updates during tumultuous weather, employees are encouraged to call the MGH Weather Line at 4-6100. For more information about MGH's weather policy, employees should contact their supervisors.