Subject to modification by the VTH Director without approval.

Printable PDF: Attendance for Nursing and Care Staff Policy

Policy

This policy is intended to establish clear guidelines for tardiness and calling off to ensure operational efficiency and consistent staff coverage within the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH).

Guidelines

1. Tardiness
   1. Tardiness may be considered as an unexcused absence and can result in disciplinary action.
   2. If the employee anticipates being late, they must notify their supervisor or designated person as soon as possible via their service’s SOP unless there are unforeseeable extenuating circumstances.
   3.  If a staff member is more than 10 minutes late, this may be recorded as a tardy
2. Calling Off
   1. If calling off for a shift, the employee must give at least a one-hour (1 hour) notice of the absence to their supervisor or designated person unless there are unforeseeable extenuating circumstances.
   2. Failure to follow call-in procedures may be considered as an unexcused absence and can result in disciplinary action.
3. Benefits Time
   1. Benefits time must be used to cover any time over 10 minutes.
   2. If there is no benefit time available to cover the absence could be unexcused and may be subject to disciplinary action.
4. Make-up Time
   1. Most absences should rely on benefits, not making up time.
   2. Make-up time can only be worked with pre-approval of the supervisor, this includes making up late arrivals, etc.
   3. Make-up time cannot be accumulated in advance of an absence.
   4. Make-up time is only for partial/brief absences, not entire work days.
   5. Though individual circumstances may vary, make-up time is generally only approved in 30-minute increments.
   6. Make-up time (if approved) can only happen during the same week as the time missed.
   7. Lunch breaks and/or rest periods may not be cumulative or made the basis for a late start time, an early quit time, or additional compensation (p. 42, section 4, 698 contract).
5. Extended Leave

1. 1. Refer to negotiated contract and IHR policies related to unplanned consecutive days absent related to illness, FMLA, VESSA, etc. https://humanresources.illinois.edu/services-and-information/policies/   

Procedure (if applicable)

1. If the employee anticipates being late, they must notify their supervisor or designated person as soon as possible via their service’s SOP unless there are unforeseeable extenuating circumstances.
2. If calling off for a shift, the employee must give at least a one-hour (1 hour) notice of the absence to their supervisor or designated person unless there are unforeseeable extenuating circumstances.

Definitions (if applicable)

Benefits Time: accrued vacation, sick leave, and other HR-approved leave such as FMLA/VESSA.

IHR: Illinois Human Resources.

Nursing and Care Staff: Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Assistants, Animal Caretakers, Animal Care Technicians, and Pharmacy Technicians.

Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH): The collective clinical services of the Large Animal Clinic, Midwest Equine, the Small Animal Clinic, and the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic.