December and January holidays
Posted on 12/4/2008
If there are questions, they may be directed to Human Resources by calling 575-7618 or 575-6209 or by e-mailing leahw@uark.edu or betha@uark.edu.
In order to save energy and reduce heating and other costs, the Fayetteville campus of University of Arkansas will be closed, except for essential operations, on Wednesday, December 24, 2008, re-opening on Monday, January 5, 2009. Some of the days during this period are official state holidays: Christmas Eve (December 24), Christmas Day (December 25), and New Year's Day (January 1). December 26th has been declared an additional holiday by Governor Beebe. Other days are taken in lieu of state or federal holidays on which the University does not close (December 29, in lieu of Veteran's Day; and December 30, in lieu of the employee's birthday.) However, one day, December 31, would ordinarily be charged to employees' annual leave. Governor Beebe has granted the University permission to allow UA employees who do not wish to use their annual leave on that day to work extra hours, as needed, during the earlier part of December, 2008, to avoid being charged annual leave for December 31. Additionally, in order to conserve energy costs, the University will be closed on January 2nd. Employees will be granted the opportunity to work extra hours, as needed, during the month of January, 2009, to avoid being charged annual leave for January 2nd.
The number of extra hours employees need to work will depend on whether they are exempt (all non-classified employees and a few classified employees) or non-exempt (most classified employees) under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA.)
o Employees who are exempt under the FLSA (that is, not entitled to compensatory time off or compensatory pay for hours over 40 worked in any work week) may work an extra 8 hours earlier in December, at their department's convenience to avoid using annual leave. Exempt employees will also be required to work an extra 8 hours to avoid using annual leave for January 2nd.
o Employees who are not exempt under the FLSA (that is, who are entitled to compensatory time off or compensatory pay for hours over 40 worked in any work week, at a rate of one-and-one-half hours for each hour worked in excess of 40 hours) may accumulate an additional 8 hours of compensatory time by working a total of 5 hours and 20 minutes that would qualify as compensatory time earlier in December, at their department's convenience to avoid using annual leave. Non-exempt employees will also be required to work an extra 5 hours and 20 minutes to avoid using annual leave for January 2nd.
o Employees have the option of either working the full amount of hours necessary to meet both the December 31 and January 2nd comp time hours in December or they can be split between the two months. If the employee opts to work the extra time between the two months it must be at the increments listed above (5 hours 20 minutes for non-exempt and 8 hours for exempt).
o Employees who do not wish to work extra hours earlier in December or January may use annual leave or regular compensatory time off.
If there are questions about whether an employee is exempt under the FLSA, they may be directed to Human Resources by calling 575-7618 or 575-6209 or by e-mailing leahw@uark.edu or betha@uark.edu.
Employees are responsible for arranging their schedules to work the extra hours. Departments are asked to accommodate employees who wish to work extra hours in order to avoid using annual leave. Deans and directors must demonstrate to the appropriate vice chancellor why accommodations are not feasible where they are requested and denied.
Beth Arbuthnot, MBA
Director Classification/Compensation/Employment
University of Arkansas Human Resources
479.575.6209 (office) 479.575.6971 (fax)
betha@uark.edu
We want to hear from you. Please e-mail comments and feedback to Heidi Stambuck at stambuck@uark.edu.