Vacations are beneficial to everyone and provide needed rest and relaxation time. While associates are strongly encouraged to take their vacation time annually, some parts of our business are very seasonal and vacations during certain times may be restricted.  Therefore, slow periods may be the best time to schedule vacations.

ELIGIBILITY: Regular full-time associates.

EFFECTIVE DATE: After thirty-one (31) days of employment.

COST: Vacation Pay for most full-time associates is eight (8) hours a day and forty (40) hours a week.  If an associate's schedule is less than forty (40) hours a week, the scheduled time will be used.  If the actual is less than forty (40) hours, but not consistent, the average hours for the last calendar year will be used, but not to exceed forty (40) hours.

BENEFIT: Vacation time is computed on December 31 in the year prior to the year in which vacation time will be taken and is effective on January 1 of the following year.

Computing vacation in the first partial year.  Following thirty-one (31) days during the first calendar year of employment, a full-time associate will be awarded one-half (1/2) day of vacation for each full month (sixteen (16) days or more) to be worked the balance of the calendar year, not to exceed five (5) days.

Computing vacation in all subsequent years.  On January 1 following the date of hire, a full-time associate will be awarded five (5) days of vacation for the coming year.

On January 1, an associate who has completed one (1) year of full-time service, but less than eight (8) years, will be awarded two (2) weeks of vacation for the coming year.

On January 1, an associate who has completed eight (8) years of full-time service, but less than fifteen (15) years, will be awarded three (3) weeks of vacation for the coming year.

On January 1, an associate who has completed fifteen (15) or more years of full-time service shall be granted four (4) weeks of vacation for the coming year.

Number of Full Calendar Years*	Vacation
Partial year in calendar year 1	½ day x full months remaining in calendar year, with max of five (5) days
First full calendar year following start date	5 days
2 - 7	10 days
8 - 14	15 days
15 and up	20 days

*Full calendar year is January 1 - December 31

All vacation scheduling is subject to manager/supervisor approval.  Associates must submit requests for vacation to their supervisor for approval at least two (2) weeks in advance.  When scheduling vacations, supervisors should consider associates' length of service as well as customer service needs.

Paid vacation hours are not considered work hours and will not be counted as work hours for the purpose of calculating overtime.

To be eligible for Vacation Pay, an associate must work his or her last regularly scheduled day before the vacation leave begins and his or her first regularly scheduled day after the vacation leave, unless the associate's supervisor has approved the absence, in advance.

Associates who are on sick, disability, or personal leave may request Vacation Pay to which they are entitled to supplement sick pay or disability income payments.

When not specifically prohibited by law, vacations can be used for military training periods at the associate's request.  No associate will be required to use vacation time for military training periods.

Vacations are paid at the pay rate in effect at the time the vacation is taken.

Vacation is awarded each January 1st.  It is not available or due before that.

Full-time, 100% commission based sales associates follow the same time schedule as regular full-time associates for vacation eligibility.  However, since their pay is based on commission, and usually paid on a draw, they are not eligible for "Vacation Pay."  Their draw is based on fifty-two (52) weeks, and they continue to receive it during vacation periods.  Their actual pay is based on a formula and is computed at the end of the year.

BUY OPTION: After one (1) full year of employment, associates can buy up to one (1) week of vacation.  A Vacation Buy Option form can be obtained in Benefit Services.

BANKED VACATION: Associates may "bank" (carry over) a combination of five (5) Vacation and Personal Days per year.  Banked Personal and Vacation Days will be recorded as vacation and taken first before current personal and vacation time. Vacation that is not banked, paid out, donated, or used in the time allotted will be forfeited.

YEAR-END PAY OUT: From January 1 through January 31 of any year, an associate may request a Vacation Payout for a maximum of five (5) days of unused vacation or personal time from the prior year provided that he or she meets all of the following requirements:  1) he or she has used a minimum of five (5) days of vacation during the previous year; 2) he or she has carried over (banked) five (5) days to the current year; 3) the excess must have been caused by an unforeseen issue such as last minute health problems or workload; and 4) he or she has the supervisor's and HR Director's approvals.  Unused vacation payouts for the prior year must be requested by January 31.  Vacation payouts will be paid the first pay period in February at the associate's rate of pay as of December 31 in the year the vacation was credited.  At year-end, any vacation or personal time in excess of amounts eligible to be banked and paid out will be lost.

DONOR OPTION: Associates can donate a portion of their Vacation or Personal Days to an associate in the event of an emergency provided that they comply with the donated Vacation/Personal time policy.

TERMINATION: Vacation Pay, regular or banked, is a benefit offered by the company to working associates.  An associate who is terminated for cause is not eligible for a vacation payout.  Cause includes, but is not limited to, theft, policy violations, disciplinary actions, excessive absenteeism, insubordination, and misconduct.

Vacation Pay, regular or banked, will be paid to an associate who voluntarily leaves the company only if the associate resigns, gives two (2) weeks' notice, and works the final two (2) weeks.  Paid time off cannot be scheduled during the two (2) week period.  To receive a vacation payout an associate must work the final two (2) weeks.  In addition, Vacation Pay, regular or banked, that was awarded during the first two (2) calendar years of employment will be paid out on a pro-rated basis for the calendar year(s) worked, provided the associate is not terminated for cause.

Regular exempt associates must register their banked vacation time with the Human Resources Department by January 15^th of the following year.  Only registered-banked vacation will be eligible for a payment.

PT TO FT: Part-time associates changing to full-time status will receive credit for previous years' service.  One (1) year of credit will be provided for every two (2) complete calendar years in which the associate worked 1000 hours.

This policy follows federal law.  Where a state law dictates different schedules and payouts, the state law will prevail.