2020 Extended Breaks and Closure

President Mantella has approved a one-time extension of Thanksgiving and Winter breaks by adding closure days on Wednesday, November 25th,  December 23rd and January 4th. All university buildings will be closed during this time, and employees will be paid without impacting any leave accruals. Ideally, this will provide some additional time for each of you to rest, rejuvenate, and connect with family and friends.

Program Details

• University holiday/closure calendars will be adjusted on the website noting closure for November 25, 2020, December 23, 2020 and January 4, 2021.
• If employes are required to work during these closure days they will be paid in accordance with the following :
  •   APSS - 12.1.2. Work on a Holiday / Closure / Floating Holiday 
  •   EAP  - BOT 4.5.3 Holidays  / Closure / Floating Holiday
  •   MGS -  12.1.4 Work on a Holiday  / Closure / Floating Holiday
  •   POAM/COAM - 12.1.2  Work on a Holiday / Closure / Floating Holiday
• This is a one-time only adjustment to the Thanksgiving and winter break schedules.
• Essential employees will not be defined differently for this program.
• This does not extend vacation balances or last day of pay for any employees that depart from GVSU. 
• This change does not apply to the maximum hours that are payable upon separation from the university.  

 

One-Time Vacation Carryover Enhancement

For employees eligible for vacation accrual

As 2020 has progressed, COVID-19 has quickly and significantly impacted the workplace. Increased demands and workloads, COVID-19 safety concerns and travel restrictions have prevented many employees from using vacation days or taking vacations that were planned for 2020. Based on current policy and bargaining agreements, employees may have needed to forfeit some accrued vacation at year end without any real opportunity to use it. 

In an effort to recognize the many contributions that GVSU employees have made throughout this year we will be implementing the following vacation carryover enhancement:

• Any unused vacation carryover balance will not expire this year as it typically would on December 31, 2020.
• Vacation carryover balance will remain available for an additional year until December 31, 2021. 
• Any amount over the regular maximum vacation carryover hours shall be forfeited on December 31, 2021.  
• This change does not apply to the maximum hours that are payable upon separation from the university.
• This is a one-time only enhancement and does not alter any practice, policy, or bargaining agreements going forward.  

No action is required by you or your supervisor for vacation accrual to carryover into 2021. Supervisors will continue to manage vacation time to ensure operational consistency. This could include imposing fixed or conditional blackout dates during expected busy times when employees will be prohibited or limited from taking vacation. You are encouraged to plan ahead and manage your vacation hours during 2021 so that you do not forfeit any vacation hours at the end of 2021. 

Please contact Human Resources with any questions at [email protected] or 331-2215.