Additional Holiday Paid Time Off

Information for non-temporary benefits eligible Institutional Officials, Merit, P&S, and 12 month Academic Administrators

The Governor's office announced that State of Iowa employees are to receive two days of additional holiday paid time off in appreciation for their teamwork during the year. As in past years, the Board of Regents has elected to follow the Governor's lead and extend additional holiday paid time off for Regents' staff as well, allowing each institution to administer the additional holiday paid time off in a way that works best for the institution.

Frequently Asked Questions

1Q: How is UNI implementing the additional holiday paid time off?

1A: In order to provide maximum flexibility to staff while allowing departments to maintain operational flexibility, UNI is electing to allow staff to utilize the additional holiday paid time off as a floating holiday on a regularly scheduled work day between Sunday, November 24, 2024 and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, with manager approval. The time off is being encouraged to be taken in full day increments to allow for a true rest period from work responsibilities, but it may be taken in as little as one-hour increments if needed.

This floating holiday paid time off is being provided in addition to the existing scheduled university holidays on December 24 and December 25.

2Q: Why did UNI choose not to designate the additional holiday paid time off on specific days like the State did?

2A: Offering this time as floating holidays allows flexibility for departments to help meet their operational needs while aiding staff in meeting personal obligations or reducing the amount of vacation accruals they may need to use during the reduced operations period. It will also allow more staff to be able to take advantage of the time off as opposed to designating specific days that may not work for all departments.

3Q: Who is eligible for the additional holiday paid time off?

3A: Non-temporary benefits eligible (50% or greater weekly FTE) Merit and P&S staff, Institutional Officials and 12 month Academic Administrators, hereinafter referred to as staff, are eligible for the additional floating holiday paid time off. Temporary staff, non-temporary staff scheduled less than 20 hours per week, graduate assistants and student employees are not eligible.

4Q: Are new staff hires eligible for the additional holiday paid time off?

4A: Staff meeting the above-referenced criteria and hired prior to November 24, 2024 are eligible for the additional floating holiday paid time off. Staff hired between November 24-December 31, 2024 would only be eligible for some or all of the additional floating holiday paid time off at the discretion of the employing department, based on operational needs.

5Q: How much additional holiday paid time off will eligible staff receive?

5A: Eligible staff may use up to 2 days (16 hours, prorated for part-time) of floating holiday paid time off to use during times they would otherwise be scheduled to work, with manager approval.

6Q: If I am part-time, how do I calculate how many hours I have available to take?

6A: Consistent with other holidays, part-time non-temporary benefits eligible staff (50% or greater FTE, but less than 100% FTE) have a prorated holiday benefit. Weekly scheduled hours divided by 5 provides the holiday benefit per holiday. So a staff member who works 20 hours per week would receive 8 hours of floating holiday paid time off (20 / 5 = 4 hours x 2 holidays = 8 hours). A staff member who works 30 hours per week would receive 12 hours of floating holiday paid time off (30 / 5 = 6 hours x 2 holidays = 12 hours).

7Q: Can I use the additional holiday paid time off during the reduced operations period when I had originally planned to use my accrued vacation or compensatory time?

7A: Yes, the floating holiday paid time off may be used during a regularly scheduled work day through the portion of the reduced operations period including December 21, 2024 through December 31, 2024.

8Q: How do I reflect the additional holiday paid time off on my time card?

8A: Eligible staff's balance of available hours for this paid time off category are displayed on the UNI Works 'Absence Balance' window under the 'Floating Holiday' Absence Plan type. To request use of floating holiday paid time off, an Absence Request must be submitted in UNI Works by selecting the absence type Time Off > Floating Holiday. As with other time off requests, the use of floating holiday time off is subject to manager approval.

9Q: If I do not take my floating holiday paid time off between November 24-December 31, 2024 or I terminate employment during this time, can I be paid out the value of the hours?

9A: No. There will be no cashing out of unused floating holiday paid time off hours for any reason. If there are circumstances in a department that do not allow for staff to use the floating holiday paid time off during the November 24-December 31, 2024 timeframe, the manager should contact HRS (hrs-employment@uni.edu) for assistance.

10Q: Can I record the additional holiday paid time off on weeks that I am already working my regularly scheduled hours, thereby increasing my pay for that time period?

10A: No. The intent of the floating holiday paid time off is for staff to take time off of work. It should not result in increasing payroll costs for the university. If there are circumstances in a department that do not allow for staff to use the floating holiday paid time off during the November 24-December 31, 2024 timeframe, the manager should contact HRS (hrs-employment@uni.edu) for assistance.

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