Johnson School
Cornell University

Johnson School Holiday Policy

The Johnson School respects and values its employees need for a work/family/life balance. Taking time from work is an important factor in staying emotionally and physically refreshed and effective. Accordingly, we encourage employees to take vacation and holidays according to University Policy.

The University Holidays are:

• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Friday following Thanksgiving Day
• Winter Holidays (six paid days off)

Due to the nature of our business, there are times when employees will be asked to work on a holiday. In particular, because classes are in session on Labor Day, the School's policy is that those departments that provide direct services to students and faculty must have skeleton staffing during normal working hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) and some offices may need to have additional staffing.

In addition to Labor Day, the School often asks staff to work on Commencement. Each department is asked for at least one volunteer to participate in Commencement. Although Commencement falls on a weekend (and therefore is not technically a holiday), holiday policies apply.

University Pay Policies Relevant to Holiday Time:

Exempt staff (paraphrased from University Policy): The expectation is that exempt employees will fulfill their position responsibilities without tracking specific work hours. Instead, exempt employees are responsible for ensuring their schedules and work patterns meet the needs of the position. Compensatory time is not appropriate for exempt staff because it implies the tracking of hours worked. However, flexible scheduling may be available to enable staff and management to balance personal and professional work life responsibilities.

Nonexempt staff: The University Policy for paying nonexempt staff required to work on a holiday is as follows:

Regular full-time nonexempt staff members are paid for holidays at their regular rate of pay, while regular part-time employees receive prorated pay equal to 1/5th of their standard workweek.

1. Employees who are absent from work either the day before a holiday, the day after a holiday or both days, will receive holiday pay provided that the absence is due to a pre-approved vacation, short-term disability, personal leave or sick leave.

2. Terminated employees do not receive holiday pay unless they work the day after the holiday.

Working on a Holiday - Nonexempt employees who are required to work on a holiday will be paid in accordance with one of three options found at Working on a Holiday.

If you are volunteering to work for the University Commencement Ceremony, please see Working Commencement.

Last Modified: September 8, 2006