13.22 Protection of Children in the Workplace

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines that will minimize risk to children visiting campus, and promote an environment conducive to the accomplishment of the university’s mission.  The university recognizes that there are many opportunities for children to visit campus and holds as priority its obligation to provide for the safety and well-being of those visitors, as well as the need to conduct university business in a safe and efficient manner.

Policy Statement

Employee supervisors and managers of university activities have the authority to approve or deny the presence of non-student children in the workplace under appropriate circumstances.  Long term, continual and/or repeated presence of children in the workplace is not conducive to efficient university operations and should therefore be avoided.

As a general rule, non-student children shall not be permitted in workplace areas that involve high risk safety issues or where significant confidentiality factors exist. Examples of such areas include, but are not limited to, power plants, shops, mechanical rooms, food preparation areas, laboratories or other specialized work areas, and construction zones.

Careful consideration should be given to the following factors in consideration of a child in the work place: safety and health of the child or others present in the space, equipment or other hazards in the area, disruption of work or research, age and behavioral characteristics of the child, considerations of confidentiality issues in the area, overall environment and purpose of the workplace.

Chapter 13: General Policies

Policy Scope

This policy applies to employees, students, or visitors who may wish to bring a non-student child to the workplaces. 

This policy does not apply to cases of incidental or intermittent presence of non-student children (see definition below), minors who are enrolled as UNI students or employed by the university, participants in approved youth activities or camps, residences provided to employees as part of their employment (e.g. residence hall director) or activities that are designed to invite and/or involve family members. 

Definitions

  • Incidental or intermittent: Non regular and brief presence on campus; including visits to introduce children to co-workers, short term visits between events, or emergencies.  Under all circumstances the child must remain under the direct supervision of the individual bringing him/her to campus or other designated adult. Consideration should be given to age and behaviors of the child.
  • Non-student child: A child under the age of 18 and not enrolled in classes at UNI.
  • Parent/guardian: Any employee, student or visitor who has responsibility for the non-student child while in the workplace.
  • Workplace: Any room, office, laboratory, university vehicle or other university facility where persons are conducting work on behalf of the university.

Additional Resources

Youth Activities, Pre-Collegiate Programs and Camps Policy: http://www.uni.edu/policies/1321

Conduct rules regarding disruption: Student Conduct Code: Article III, Section 2.2.7 http://www.uni.edu/policies/302;

UNI Personal Conduct Rules: http://www.uni.edu/policies/303

 

Vice President, Administration and Financial Services, approved July 2013 
President's Cabinet, approved December 9, 2013 
President and Executive Management Team, approved December 19, 2013