Q & A

Happy Monday!  I’ve learned that there is confusion or questions about two topics, so I’m writing to provide clarification.

Does “administrative leave” mean I’m being paid?

Yes, employees on administrative leave are paid for their regularly scheduled hours at their regular rate of pay.  Employees are currently working and/or being paid administrative leave.  Here is the administrative leave policy:

 H-9.     Administrative Leave Benefits

 

FCPL may grant administrative leave with pay for an absence involving an administrative decision or a situation for which other leaves do not apply. Use of administrative leave is strictly at the discretion of FCPL management.

Examples of situations that may warrant administrative leave include but are not limited to:

·          Closure of offices due to inclement weather, adverse conditions, or emergency situations.

·          Investigation into possible wrongdoing, misconduct, or violation of law.

·          Pending results of a test, examination, drug screening, or other assessment relating to employee’s ability to perform essential functions of the job.

·          Removal of an employee from the work environment for administrative reasons.

·          Any instance where it is considered to be in the interest of the employee or FCPL.

 
When FCPL authorizes the use of administrative leave for a situation, the employee will be paid his or her normal rate of pay for the duration of the leave. Time designated as administrative leave will not be charged to a classified employee’s paid leave. Administrative leave time does not count as hours worked for the purpose of determining overtime.

An employee on administrative leave is expected to be in a work-ready status at all times during his or her regularly scheduled time and must be able to report to work with short notice. A failure to return to work when the administrative leave is concluded or cancelled may result in disciplinary action.

 

What is the long-term plan?  How long will we be closed to the public? When will programs resume?

The answer to all of these questions is “I don’t know.” 

As you know, information is changing daily if not hourly.  At this point we are closed through March 31 to be consistent with the White House’s “15 Days to Slow the Spread.”  Governor Kemp has encouraged social distancing for eight weeks and the Urgent Declaration Regarding Gatherings issued by BOC Chair Laura Semanson states that “Forsyth County citizens and residents are requested, in the most urgent terms, to avoid holding, sponsoring, or attending non-mandatory assemblies or gatherings of 10 or more individuals for so long as Forsyth County remains in a state of locally declared emergency.”  (The declaration of local emergency was made on 3/18/20.)  Even without offering programs, we would easily have clusters of 10+ people in our libraries.  We will announce our plans for April prior to the end of March. It is possible that we will reopen in stages, with limited services offered at first. Again, I truly do not know.  I do know that we will be monitoring CDC and other recommendations carefully and prioritizing the health of staff, patrons, and the larger community.

If we aren’t sharing information, it’s likely because we don’t have the information to share.  But, feel free to ask just in case.  Thank you for your patience during this time.  I know that waiting for answers is tedious and frustrating.