In recognition of pandemic-related workload over the last two years, Chancellor Mark Mone is asking all divisions at UWM to consider closing buildings or offices to the public and visitors on the day after Thanksgiving, to allow employees maximum flexibility to either use paid leave to take the day off or work remotely if duties allow.
This reflects the fact that foot traffic is often normally very low in many areas across our campuses that day. For example, UWM’s branch campuses normally close buildings to the public the day after Thanksgiving.
All academic and administrative buildings will be closed (locked) to the public and visitors the day after Thanksgiving. If a building chair would like to request an exception to the closure, they should contact the Facility Services Work Order Center to request a building to be open and unlocked from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Areas that serve students and anticipate that there will be a need to provide services to students or others the day after Thanksgiving may choose to stay open and staff facilities appropriately. Such facilities should make their planned hours over the Thanksgiving weekend known to patrons.
While UWM offices and buildings may be closed to the public, the day after Thanksgiving is a normal “work” day under UW System policies. Employees performing essential functions as determined by their unit heads must still report to work as scheduled. Employees who do not plan to work that day should request time off and use paid leave.
Some employees may not have paid leave available or the flexibility to work remotely and may prefer to come to UWM to work that day; those employees should be permitted to work and may need supervisory presence, depending on normal practice.
