Temporary Changes to Laboratory Operational Status

Information about temporary changes to regular laboratory operations at Argonne due to severe weather, emergencies, or other unexpected concerns.

In the event of severe weather or an emergency, Argonne may change its operational status to one of the following:

Remote work recommended;
Delayed start of normal laboratory operations;
Full-day suspension of normal laboratory operations; or
Early suspension of normal laboratory operations

The sections below provide more details.

Jump to a section:
1. Checking the Laboratory’s Operational Status
2. Communicating About Changes to Laboratory Status
3. Status: Remote Work Recommended
4. Status: Delayed Start of Normal Laboratory Operations
5. Status: Full-Day Suspension of Normal Laboratory Operations
6. Status: Early Suspension of Normal Laboratory Operations
7. Status: Normal Laboratory Operations (Resume)
8. Working Remotely
9. Notifying Non-Employees and New Employees

Checking the Laboratory’s Operational Status

Employees and visitors can find the laboratory’s current operational status:

On the Emergency Information page
By calling the Info Line at 630-252-INFO (630-252-4636); or
On the Argonne mobile app.

Communicating About Changes to Laboratory Status

When there’s a change to the lab’s operational status, Argonne will notify employees and site occupants via the Argonne Alert System to announce changes. The system (log in required) notifies employees and site occupants via email, telephone, and text message. Text messages may be truncated and include a link to more information online, which is hosted at an approved site. It is safe to click through.

To ensure employees receive notifications about changes to laboratory operational status they should set or update their contact information and messaging options, using Workday (log in required). To see your current information: log in, click “Menu, then “Personal Information,” and then “Contact Information.” Read more about updating contact information (log in required).

Visitors should be notified by their host when a change to the laboratory’s operational status occurs and should check the laboratory’s current status before coming to the lab.

Status: Remote Work Recommended

When Argonne announces that remote work is recommended:

Nonessential employees who have appropriate authorization are encouraged to work remotely.
Nonessential employees without remote work authorization shall either report to work or request vacation by contacting their supervisor at or before the beginning of their work period and recording their work effort as “Vacation” in Dayforce (log in required).
Employees deemed essential to operations or employees whose assigned shifts start or end outside the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. shall report as usual.

Employees should reach out to their managers if they have questions.

Visitors should be notified by their host when a change to the laboratory’s operational status occurs and should check the laboratory’s current status before coming to the lab.

Status: Delayed Start of Normal Laboratory Operations

When Argonne announces a delayed start to normal laboratory operations, employees who are scheduled to work remotely should do so, and employees who are scheduled to work on site should do the following:

Nonessential employees shall not report to site until the lab resumes regular operations. They shall work remotely as required by their supervisor.
Nonessential employees shall take vacation if they are directed by their supervisor to work remotely but choose not to. They must communicate this choice by contacting their supervisor at or before the beginning of their work period. They shall record their work effort as “Vacation” in Dayforce (log in required).
Nonessential employees without remote work direction from their supervisor shall not report to site until the lab resumes regular operations. They shall record the time they were unable to work as “CL1 Operations Suspended” in Dayforce (log in required).
Employees who have absences, such as vacation, scheduled prior to the announcement of the suspension shall record their work effort to the previously approved code.
Employees deemed essential to operations or employees whose assigned shifts start or end outside the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. shall report as usual.

Employees should reach out to their managers if they have questions.

Access to the lab will be adjusted. East Gate and West Gate will be closed until the time designated in communications. All traffic should use North Gate until regular operations are resumed.

Visitors should be notified by their host when a change to the laboratory’s operational status occurs and should check the laboratory’s current status before coming to the lab.

Status: Full-Day Suspension of Normal Laboratory Operations

When Argonne announces a full-day suspension of normal laboratory operations, employees who work remotely should continue to do so, and employees who are scheduled to work on site should do the following:

Nonessential employees shall not report to site and shall work remotely as required by their supervisor.
Nonessential employees shall take vacation if they are directed by their supervisor to work remotely but choose not to. They must communicate this choice by contacting their supervisor at or before the beginning of their work period. They shall record their work effort as “Vacation” in Dayforce (log in required).
Nonessential employees without remote work direction from their supervisor shall not report to site and shall record their work effort as “CL1 Operations Suspended” in Dayforce (log in required).
Employees who have absences, such as vacation, scheduled prior to the announcement of the suspension shall record their work effort to the previously approved code.
Employees deemed essential to operations or employees whose assigned shifts start or end outside the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. shall report as usual.

Employees should reach out to their managers if they have questions.

Access to the lab will be adjusted. East Gate and West Gate will be closed. All traffic should use North Gate until regular operations are resumed.

In most cases normal laboratory operations are expected to resume the following day unless otherwise noted in the communication.

Visitors should be notified by their host when a change to the laboratory’s operational status occurs and should check the laboratory’s current status before coming to the lab.

Status: Early Suspension of Normal Laboratory Operations

When Argonne announces an early suspension of normal laboratory operations is required:

Nonessential employees shall leave the laboratory at the time designated in communications. If nonessential employees cannot leave the site for safety reasons, such as an ongoing experiment that cannot be brought to a safe configuration by the time of early suspension, they should contact their ESH coordinator (log in required) and building manager (log in required) as soon as possible.

Employees who are scheduled to work remotely should do so, and employees who are scheduled to work on site should do the following:

Nonessential employees shall work remotely after they arrive home as required by their supervisor.
Nonessential employees shall take vacation if they are directed by their supervisor to work remotely but choose not to. They must communicate this choice to their supervisor in advance. They shall record their work effort as “Vacation” in Dayforce (log in required). 
Nonessential employees without remote work direction from their supervisor shall record the time they were unable to work as “CL1 Operations Suspended” in Dayforce (log in required). 
Employees who have absences, such as vacation, scheduled prior to the announcement of the suspension shall record their work effort to the previously approved code. 
Employees deemed essential to operations or employees whose assigned shifts start or end outside the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. shall report to as usual.

Employees should reach out to their managers if they have questions.

The lab encourages employees to use the East Gate as an additional means of exit to reduce congestion. East Gate and West Gate will close to incoming and outgoing traffic at the times designated in communications. After that time, all traffic should use North Gate.

In most cases, normal laboratory operations are expected to resume the following day unless otherwise noted in the communication.

Visitors should be notified by their host when a change to the laboratory’s operational status occurs and should check the laboratory’s current status before coming to the lab.

Status: Normal Laboratory Operations (Resume)

When conditions have improved enough to resume normal laboratory operations employees shall report for work as usual at the time indicated in labwide communications.

All gates will reopen at the times indicated in labwide communications.

Grounds and custodial crews will continue to treat unsafe conditions as necessary.

Employees should still follow best practices for working in different types of severe weather.

Employees should report areas with unsafe conditions or areas needing attention to the relevant building manager (log in required), by submitting a Vector request (log in required), or through the Argonne mobile app (log in required). Visitors should notify their host of any areas needing attention. If conditions have created an emergency, report them to 9-1-1 (lab phone) or call 630-252-1911 (mobile phone).

Employees should contact their managers if they have questions.

Visitors should be notified by their host when a change to the laboratory’s operational status occurs and should check the laboratory’s current status before coming to the lab.

Working Remotely

Remote work (log in required) may be an option or required during severe weather or other scenarios affecting operations and travel. Plan ahead with your supervisor and bring work (and the necessary tools) home when severe weather is predicted. The Working Remotely page provides resources for employees eligible for offsite work.

Notifying Non-Employees and New Employees

When severe weather or other scenarios cause a temporary change to the laboratory’s normal operational status, it’s important to share our processes and best practices with those who may be unfamiliar with them.

Notifying non-employees

If you are responsible for non-employees who access the site (such as contractors, guests, users, or vendors), please communicate changes in laboratory status to them and direct them to the Emergency Information page for the lab’s current status.
When the lab returns to normal operational status, communicate that to non-employees.

Notifying new employees

If you have a new employee on your team, please make sure they are aware of our process for announcing temporary changes to the laboratory status above and our Severe Weather page.