Vacation Leave and Accrual
Scope
All financial and administrative policies involving community members across campus, including volunteers are within the scope of this policy. If there is a variance between departmental expectations and the common approach described through college policy, the college will look to the campus community, including volunteers to support the spirit and the objectives of college policy. Unless specifically mentioned in a college policy, the college’s Board of Trustees are governed by their Bylaws.
Policy
Vacations are an important aspect of the college’s commitment to a thriving community and staff are encouraged to take time off to refresh from the demands of work. Vacation accrual begins at the time of hire and is available for use as it is accrued, subject to supervisor approval.
All staff are encouraged to use their vacation in a timely fashion. Vacation leave accrual stops once the maximum amount of 264 hours has been reached and will resume when the leave balance falls below the maximum amount.
All staff are paid for all accrued, unused vacation at termination of employment.
Vacation Accrual for Hourly Staff
Full-time 9-12 month hourly staff accrue vacation leave at the rate of .085/hour worked (which would be 22 days of vacation for an hourly employee working 2080 hours per year (40 hours per week)). Eligible hourly employees working less than 2080 hours per year accrue at the same rate, but total hours earned will be less even though it may still provide equitable days (since a workday may be less hours). For example, an hourly employee working 30 hours a week (5 days a week x 6 hour days) works 1,560 hours a year. They would accrue 132.6 hours in a year of work, which would be 22 6-hour days of vacation. Maximum accrual is 264 hours.
Hourly staff report leave taken at the same time they report regular hours worked using the online timesheet that must be completed at the end of each pay period to ensure timely payment of wages. Vacation leave for hourly staff is reported in 15-minute increments. The latest leave balance is listed on paycheck stubs. Please contact the Payroll Office if your leave balance does not appear to be correct.
The college provides a robust leave program to support employees who need time away. Employees shall not take unpaid leave until all appropriate paid leave has been exhausted.
Vacation leave taken does not count toward the calculation of overtime.
Vacation Accrual for Exempt Staff
Full-time 12 month exempt staff accrue 7.34 hours of vacation per pay period (22 days per year) for a 2080-hours-a-year work schedule. Accruals are prorated based on FTE. Maximum accrual is 264 hours. Exempt staff who work less than 12 months do not accrue vacation leave.
Exempt staff report leave by completing the online leave report twice monthly. Vacation leave for exempt staff is recorded in 4-hour increments. Leave balances are adjusted in the payroll period following the month in which leave is taken.
Procedures
All requests for vacation must receive prior approval by the supervisor.
Paid vacation is limited to the time accrued and may not be taken in advance of accrual. Employees may request unpaid time if they need vacation and don’t have an accrued balance available. Exempt employees taking approved unpaid vacation must notify HR prior to the pay period during which the unpaid leave is taken.
Consideration will be given to all requests for vacation time and the staff member’s preference will be respected whenever practical. However, supervisors may deny vacation leave requests which conflict with the operation of the department or if the staff member does not have vacation leave available.
All supervisors have an obligation to ensure that a decision to deny vacation leave is done so in care of the operations of the department or in the case that leave has been exhausted. Discriminatory application of this policy is not permitted and may be a violation of our Nondiscrimination Policy. Concerns related to discriminatory conduct involving vacation denial should be reported to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX.
Time off during block breaks or before/after spring, fall, and winter break must be taken as vacation leave.
Procedures
All requests for vacation must be approved by the supervisor prior to scheduling time away.
Employees should speak with their supervisors to determine how/when vacation leave is to be requested.
Regular ongoing staff employees earn vacation in accordance with this policy.
Faculty, occasional, temporary, and student workers do not earn vacation.
Paid vacation is limited to the time accrued.