Vacations are beneficial to everyone and provide needed rest and relaxation time. Some parts of our business are very seasonal and vacations during certain times may be restricted.

ELIGIBILITY:  Part-time associates who have completed an entire calendar year of employment and worked 1000 hours during that calendar year.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  January 1 following the completion of one calendar year of employment.

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.  Hours of vacation is determined based on the average paid hours per week the part-time associate worked the previous year.  For example, if the associate averaged 28 paid hours per week the previous year, that associate would be awarded 28 hours for each week they are eligible based on years of service as listed below:

On January 1 a part-time associate who completed an entire calendar year and worked 1000 hours during the previous calendar year will be awarded two (2) weeks of prorated vacation for the coming year.

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

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

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' seniority, as well as customer service needs.

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.

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

BANKED VACATION:  Associates may "bank" (carry over) a week's worth of prorated 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 Pay out for a maximum of one (1) week’s prorated, 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 1 week’s prorated vacation during the previous year; 2) he or she has carried over (banked) one (1) week’s prorated vacation 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 time to an associate in the event of an emergency.  Time donated will be calculated at a value based on hours donated times the hourly rate of the donor.  Time off for the recipient will be calculated by taking the value donated divided by his/her hourly rate.

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.