Weather Policy For University Expected Soon

A University-wide policy establishing guidelines for employees on bad weather days is expected to be released soon in an attempt to coordinate the policies of Harvard's various schools.

The plan, which officials expect to release by next week, is being devised by the Personnel Policies Council because of the extreme weather situation this year, Daniel D. Cantor, chairman of the committee, said yesterday.

Under the present system, some University employees must use their allowance vacation or sick leave days if bad weather prevents them from getting to their job, while others are not expected to come in on bad weather days.

The decision to establish a uniform policy comes in the wake of criticism of the University from Medical Area District 65 of the Distributive Workers of America. An article in its recent newsletter objected to the University's insistence that all Medical Area employees report for work regardless of weather conditions.

Unfair to Labor

"The University needs an acceptable standard where employees would not be penalized for taking days off because of the weather," Leslie A. Sullivan, Medical Area District 65 organizer, said yesterday.

"Another of our main gripes is the unevenly set policy of the University regarding inclement weather," Sullivan said.

"The Med School has just about as many policies regarding bad weather as departments," Vivienne A. Rubeski, manager of the Medical Area division of the personnel office said yesterday.