Holidays

The University provides twelve holidays a year to all regular employees: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after, and Christmas Day. On these days, normal University operations are closed down. Four additional "working holidays" are provided, for which University operations continue as usual, with alternate holiday time off given as described below.

Note: Red text indicates a policy revision (February 1999).

Holidays falling on the first day of the weekend will be observed on the day before; holidays falling on the last day of the weekend will be observed the following day. A weekend in this context is two consecutive days off, whether they be Saturday and Sunday or any other two consecutive days.

To receive holiday pay employees must be in pay status for all scheduled hours on both the last scheduled workday immediately prior to the holiday and the first scheduled workday immediately following the holiday.

Regular part-time employees and temporary part-time employees with appointments of more than six months receive holiday pay prorated according to the FTE as recorded on the PAF, regardless of whether the employee is scheduled for work on the holiday.

Holiday pay will be prorated for employees on workers' compensation who are using sick and/or vacation leave to supplement their pay.

Temporary employees with appointments of six months or less and on-call employees are not eligible for holiday pay and, if required to work on a holiday, will be paid at the regular rate.

Note: Red text indicates a policy revision (November 1999).

Employees may be required to work on a University holiday.

Hourly paid employees required to work on a holiday will be paid for the holiday plus the hours worked. For hourly paid employees required to work on a holiday, departments may exercise one of the following options:

• Employee receives holiday pay (earnings type HOL) plus pay for hours worked on the holiday.
• Employee receives pay for the hours worked and takes the holiday (hour for hour) with pay at a later date. Departments should use earnings type FLH (floating holiday) to record holiday hours on the time sheet and time report when floating holiday hours are taken.
• Employee receives holiday pay (earnings type HOL) plus pay for the hours worked and takes the holiday at a later time without pay.

The latter two options require prior approval from the department, and alternative time off must be taken within 60 days following the holiday. Time taken should be mutually agreed upon by the department and the employee.

Monthly paid employees required to work on a holiday will be given an alternate time off for hours worked on the holiday (hour for hour) within 60 days of the holiday worked. The time taken should be mutually agreed upon by the employee and the supervisor.

Working Holidays

Working holidays are: Presidents Day (third Monday in February), Arbor Day (last Friday in April), Columbus Day (second Monday in October), and Veterans Day (November 11). Because University classes and offices are operational and staffed on these days, employees will normally take alternate holiday time off during the December campus closedown periods established by the academic calendar. Employees wishing to take time off for these holidays at times other than the December campus closedown must have departmental approval.

Employees who separate from the University prior to using this alternate holiday time will receive pay at the regular rate at the time of separation.

Employees who have not accrued sufficient alternate holiday time to cover the closedown period (i.e. employees hired after the occurrence of one or more of these holidays and prior to the campus closedown) will use vacation leave or leave without pay during the closedown period.

NOTE: At department discretion employees may be advanced up to five days of vacation leave to remain in pay status during the campus closedown.

Note: Red text indicates a policy revision (February 1999).

Vacation Leave

How to Request It

An employee must submit a request for leave form to the department to receive advance authorization for vacation leave. Employee choice is considered, but UNL reserves the right to schedule vacation time to minimize work disruption. Employees who request vacation leave well in advance will make it easier for supervisors to accommodate vacation choices.

Vacation leave must not be unreasonably denied or deferred. Employees who believe their vacation rights have been violated should contact Human Resources.

Vacation Leave Advancement

With departmental approval, employees may be advanced up to five days of vacation leave. Employees shall reimburse the University for all used, unearned vacation leave upon separation.

Accrual

Vacation leave accrual begins on the first day of employment and ends on the last day of employment. Rate of accrual is shown in the accrual charts which follow.

The formula to calculate vacation leave accrual for a full-time employee for less than a full month of employment is:
(Days in pay status in month) divided by (Total workdays in month) times (Hours per month from accrual chart) equals (Hours accrued).

Part-time employees accrue vacation in proportion to their FTE. The formula to calculate vacation leave accrual for a part-time employee is:
(FTE from PAF) times (Hours per month from accrual chart) equals (Hours accrued).

The formula to calculate vacation leave accrual for a part-time employee for less than a full month of employment is:
(Days in pay status in month) divided by (Total workdays in month) times (FTE from PAF) times (Hours per month from accrual chart) equals (Hours accrued).

Employees accrue vacation only when they are in pay status.

Time worked in excess of 40 hours in the workweek does not affect vacation leave accrual.

When balances are posted, figures should represent accrual up to the time of posting.

(For vacation leave accrual for employees transferring from one UNL position to another or for employees coming to a UNL position from other University of Nebraska campuses, from other Nebraska state colleges, or from Nebraska state government agencies, see Transfer, Recruitment and Hiring.)

Accrual, Change in Rate

For employees transferring from office/service to managerial/professional positions or vice versa, change in the rate of vacation accrual will begin on the effective date of transfer. For accrual purposes, years of service will be transferred to the new position.

Change in the rate of vacation accrual due to increased seniority will be effective on the anniversary date of hire.

Office/Service Accrual Chart

Full-time office/service employees accrue vacation leave as follows:

Managerial/Professional Accrual Chart

Full-time managerial/professional employees accrue vacation leave as follows:

Balancing of Vacation Leave

The amount of vacation leave that can be accumulated by employees effective April 1, 2007 is 280 hours. Employees will not accrue any additional vacation leave until their balance drops below 280 hours.

Employees may check their current vacation balance by reviewing their pay advice or by accessing the Employee Self Service (ESS) website at https://firefly.nebraska.edu

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If you would like more information about the department of Human Resources, visit the Human Resources website or call 402-472-3101. You may also email questions about Human Resources policies or procedures to hroffice2@unl.edu.