Holiday break and campus shutdown

To conserve utility costs, the College will again curtail services and operations for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays by continuing a voluntary liberal leave policy. With the exception of a few offices, college buildings will be closed, and heat reduced, beginning close of business Wednesday, December 24, 2008 and will reopen on Monday, January 5, 2009. Liberal leave will be observed on Wednesday, December 24, 2008.

Specific information for various employee groups concerning this break follows:

1) Faculty with academic year obligations have no teaching obligation during this period. They are, therefore, not required to charge leave.

2) Management Confidential, Library and other UUP Professional Staff who accrue vacation leave and earn compensatory time for work on legal holidays, are encouraged to use these leave credits to cover their absences during this break. These employees, if they wish, may also request leave without pay or an alternate work assignment for some or all of this period.

3) CSEA, C-82 & PEF Employees who earn vacation credits and receive personal leave, compensatory time, and holiday compensatory time and who voluntarily choose not to work, are encouraged to use their credits to cover time away from work during this period. Employees may also elect leave without pay. If they plan to work during this period and find their department or building scheduled to be closed, they should notify their supervisor and contact the Human Resources Office for reassignment.

Alternate work assignments will be available to all employees wishing to work, especially those for whom leave without pay or charge to credits would be a hardship. Alternate assignment requests should be submitted in writing by the employee or the appropriate supervisor to the Human Resources Office no later than December 5, 2008.

Employees who would prefer time off during this holiday period, but anticipate they will have insufficient accruals to cover these days should contact the Human Resources Office (673-3434) as soon as possible.

The success of this effort again this year will depend on the willingness of employees to use leave credits and other accruals. There are only five (5) workdays for most employees during this period. Closing certain buildings for eleven (11) consecutive days will generate significant savings in both electrical and heating costs. I appreciate your cooperation.

Employees of other on-campus employers; e.g. SUNY Research Foundation, FSA and the Campus and Community Children’s Center will be instructed separately by those in charge of these areas concerning this holiday break.

Should you have any additional questions, please contact the Human Resources Office at 716-673-3434.

Best wishes for an enjoyable holiday break!