Disaster Service Worker

All new hires are notified of their disaster service worker status and asked to sign an acknowledgment during the new hire sign-up process. A copy is stored in the personnel file. The absence of this document, however, does not relieve the employee of their disaster service worker responsibilities under the law. Additionally, the responsibility of each County or Agency employee to serve as a disaster service worker is covered during the New Employee Orientation that all employees are to attend at the initiation of their employment. Information regarding your status as disaster service worker is located on your employee ID badge.

• When the County officially declares an emergency, you should first ensure you and your family are safe.
• Follow your department’s reporting instructions.
• Be prepared to be assigned to a disaster service assignment.
• Understand assignments may require your disaster service work to be at locations, times and conditions other than your normal work assignment.

All County and Agency employees may be utilized for disaster service worker assignments. Departments and County Human Resources prioritize contacting employees who meet the criteria for given assignments first.

In most cases, your department, EOC, or County Human Resources will provide you with a general assignment based on the needs during the declared emergency. Examples of general job category duties you may be asked to perform include: answering telephones, ordering/delivering food or supplies, managing volunteers, staffing a hotline, developing information or communications, food handling, maintenance tasks, running messages, tracking information in the EOC, helping in a warehouse, shelter or food bank, language interpretation, or other tasks as needed.

When you are assigned a shift you will be given a point of contact for your assignment. When you start your shift (either in person or remotely), you need check in with your point of contact. They will orient you and provide any necessary training, supplies, or equipment, including personal protective equipment if applicable.

There may be reasons that prevent an employee from performing disaster service worker, or reporting for specific types of disaster service worker shifts. If you currently, or at any time in the future, feel you are unable to perform disaster service work, you need to notify your supervisor/department management immediately. Your supervisor/department management will let you know if your specific situation is acceptable to release you from either some or all types of disaster service work and inform County Human Resources as to your availability/lack of availability.

If you are contacted for a disaster service worker assignment by either your department, EOC, or County Human Resources, the expectation is that you will accept and report for the shift. If you refuse or state you are unavailable for a disaster service worker shift without having already spoken with your supervisor/department management as to the reason why you are unavailable for work, disciplinary action may be taken.

Employees currently on an approved leave of absence (excluding DPNW) are not expected to perform disaster service work.

Disaster service work is considered regular work. You will be paid in accordance with the applicable MOU or Salary Resolution, and at your regular rate for hours worked. Any overtime or other special pay would apply per your applicable MOU or Salary Resolution.

Reimbursement for mileage and travel time would apply per the applicable MOU or Salary Resolution and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Typically, this will be for travel time and mileage that exceed your travel time to your regularly assigned reporting location. You can check with your payroll clerk for specific details.