41.001: Vacation and Winter Closure Time
Approved for interim use in accordance with Policy 01.001
December 12, 2023
Mary Elizabeth Miles | Interim Vice President of Human Resources
Stacey Bennett | General Counsel
Lori Stewart Gonzalez | President
Overview
This policy governs vacation leave for all administrative employees. This policy also governs winter closure time for all eligible "Fraternal Order of Police," police officers (FOP-blue) and "Fraternal Order of Police," police lieutenants (FOP-gold) and administrative employees. Local 1699 and local 3200 "Ohio Council 8 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO" should refer to their current contract for specifics of participation.
Eligibility
Administrative appointments with duration of nine, ten, eleven or twelve months are eligible for the paid vacation leave benefit. FOP - police officers (blue), FOP - lieutenants (gold), local 1699, and local 3200 "Ohio Council 8 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO" should refer to their current contract for specifics of participation.
Administrative accrual
This section defines the total amount of vacation that an administrator is eligible to receive each year, along with how much time they will accrue during each pay period. The length of a vacation day is determined by multiplying eight hours by the employee’s FTE. Please refer to "Winter Break Closure" site for further explanations and clarifications.
Paid vacation is not earned during an unpaid leave of absence without regular pay. Vacation time may be taken during the regular appointment period.
Administrative appointments earn vacation days as follows:- Twelve-month administrative appointments earn vacation time at the rate of one day per pay period for the first twenty-two pay periods in which they have worked any time, each fiscal year, up to a maximum of twenty-two days per fiscal year.
- Eleven-month administrative appointments earn vacation time at the rate of one day per pay period for the first twenty pay periods in which they have worked any time, each fiscal year, up to a maximum of twenty days per fiscal year.
- Ten-month administrative appointments earn vacation time at the rate of one day per pay period for the first eighteen pay periods in which they have worked any time, each fiscal year, up to a maximum of eighteen days per fiscal year.
- Nine-month administrative appointments earn vacation time at the rate of one day per pay period for the first sixteen pay periods in which they have worked any time, each fiscal year, up to a maximum of sixteen days per fiscal year.
An administrative employee may accumulate a balance of up to fifty-four vacation days throughout a given fiscal year but must be reduced to a thirty-two day maximum by June thirtieth, prorated by the appointment length. Exceptions are explained in the next paragraph.
In the event that an employee has accumulated thirty-two or more vacation days, prorated by their appointment length, and cannot take vacation time immediately because of pressing departmental needs as identified by the department head, the department head shall specify, in writing, that all of the employee's unused vacation days (limited to fifty-four days) will be carried over and available for use in the next fiscal year. A copy of the written record will be given to the employee, the planning unit head, and the payroll office.Vacation usage and reporting
University human resources shall maintain online instructions for usage and reporting of vacation time by all employees covered by this policy.
Payout of eligible vacation time
Separation from Ohio university
Upon separation from university service, including retirement, payment for eligible, earned, but unused vacation leave will be made in a lump sum to the employee at their current rate of pay provided the employee has completed the initial probationary period. Administrative appointments are eligible for a maximum payout of thirty-two (32) days. FOP - police officer (blue), FOP - lieutenants (gold), local 1699 and local 3200 "Ohio Council 8 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO" should refer to their current contract for specifics of participation.
In the event of the death of an employee eligible for vacation, any unused vacation leave will be paid in accordance with section 2113.04 of the Revised Code, or to the deceased employee's estate.
No employee shall be continued on the payroll for the purpose of exhausting his or her vacation.
University employment status change
When an employee changes from classified status to administrative (or vice versa), there should be mutual agreement between the employee and the department head regarding disposition of any unused vacation. Any such agreement for disposition of unused vacation must be within the confines of the university policies cross-referenced below and state law regarding the accrual and use of vacation. University human resources must be notified in writing as to whether the balance will be carried over to the new record or lump sum payment will be made for any part or all of the unused balance at the time of change in status.
Winter break closure
This paragraph of the policy is applicable to administrative and "Fraternal Order of Police," police lieutenants (FOP-Gold) employees, and "Fraternal Order of Police," police officers (FOP - Blue). Ohio university closes annually from December twenty-fifth through January first. Any work performed during this period of closure must be approved by the appropriate unit head or designee of the president. Employees that are in active pay status on the work day preceding winter break closure will receive pay for the closure days.
Winter break closure includes three holidays and three days in which employees would be otherwise scheduled to work. The first and second business days are holidays (Christmas and president's day observed); the third, fourth, and fifth business days will be paid as winter closure time ("WCT") by the university. WCT neither accumulates, nor carries-over, nor is it eligible for any cash pay-out at time of separation, for any reason, from Ohio university. Employees may not report WCT on days that they would not be regularly scheduled. Use of WCT may not cause an employee to exceed forty hours of work in one week.
Employees will be paid for the three days of winter closure time.
The sixth business day is holiday (New Year's day).
For specific procedures and more detailed information regarding timekeeping and winter break closure, please refer to the "Guidelines for Vacation and Winter Closure Time for Administrative and Classified Employees." When those guidelines are reviewed to consider updates, those listed as reviewers for this policy or for policy 41.125 will be consulted.
Reviewers
Proposed revisions of this policy should be reviewed by:
- Director, Taxation and Payroll
- Controller
- Administrative Senate
- Faculty Senate
- Deans