With fall term well under way, it’s time for employees and departments to look ahead to scheduling and operational needs around university-observed holidays.
The UO will be closed Nov. 22-23 for Thanksgiving; Tuesday, Dec. 25, for Christmas Day; and Tuesday, Jan. 1, for New Year’s Day. Paid holidays vary for employee groups, based on collective bargaining agreements and policy.
Service Employee International Union and UO Police Association: Paid holidays are Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
The collective bargaining agreement also grants these classified employees an additional day off, referred to as the special day of leave, which may be used on a mutually agreed-upon day between, and including, the working day before Thanksgiving and Jan. 31. Where no day during this time can be mutually agreed upon, another day of the employee’s choice shall be granted, provided that does not create the closure of facilities. This day must be used no later than June 30.
Full-time employees receive eight hours of leave. Part-time employees receive prorated leave, based on the same percentage or fraction of the month as they are normally scheduled to work. Temporary employees are not eligible for holiday pay but do earn time-and-a-half for work performed on a recognized holiday.
Teamsters: Under the Teamsters collective bargaining agreement, employees are entitled to Thanksgiving Day and the day after, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day as paid holidays.
The holidays are observed on the dates listed above. Teamsters-represented employees may also take a special day of leave, which may be used the working day before or next working day after the Christmas or New Year's Day holidays.
Faculty and officers of administration: Thanksgiving Day and the day after, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are paid holidays.
If the governor grants a special day of leave again this year, the university will honor it for faculty members and OAs. Historically, the special day of leave was taken the working day before or next working day after Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, but more recently it could be used any working day between Nov. 27 and Jan. 31. The announcement from the governor is usually made in mid-November.
Unit operations and scheduling: Because SEIU employees have Dec. 24 off, the university’s workforce will be significantly reduced on this day. To address operational needs on Dec. 24, unit managers may use one of the following three options: Units may remain fully open to the public; designate the day as an “administrative closure,” on which employees may choose to work but offices are closed to the public; or close if all employees have elected to use their leave. OAs and other unclassified staff will need to use paid leave for Dec. 24.
Campus Planning and Facilities Management will collect and publish a list of units that will remain open to the public Dec. 24. Heating systems will not be affected in buildings where units are open or opt for the administrative closure. More information about university holidays, including a comprehensive list of paid holidays throughout the year, is available on the human resources website.