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Vacation Cap Reinstatement
Published November 17, 2023
Agreements regarding carryover of vacation accruals, which commenced in 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic will expire on December 31, 2023.
Maximum Vacation Accumulation Reinstatement
Employees who would otherwise have forefited accrued vacation leave have until the close of business on December 31, 2023 to use such excess vacation credits.
Expiration of these agreements on December 31, 2023 will result in the following based on your negotiating unit:
No accruals in excess of 40 days will be carried past December 31, 2023.
Going forward, on January 1 of each calendar year, accrued vacation leave credits may not exceed 40 days. Vacation leave credits may exceed 40 days during the calendar year, but the amount over 40 days must be used or it will be forfeited on the last day of the calendar year.
Vacation accruals earned before April 1, 2023 are reduced to 40 days as of December 31, 2023.
Vacation earned on or after April 1, 2023 can be carried until April 1, 2024, at which point any vacation accruals over the contractual cap will be reduced to 40 days.
As of January 1, 2024, the maximum carry forward is 40 days of vacation plus the amount of vacation that would be credited during the first twenty pay periods of the current fiscal year (including any applicable bonus days).
Vacation accruals earned before September 30, 2023 are reduced to 40 days as of December 31, 2023.
Any vacation earned on or after October 1, 2023 can be carried until September 30, 2024.
As of January 1, 2024, the maximum carry forward is 40 days of vacation plus the amount of vacation they would be credited during the six pay periods between October 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023 (including any applicable bonus days).
The actual amount of vacation carried forward for the period October 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 will be subject to all normal rules governing eligibility to be credited with vacation (e.g., remaining in pay status, etc.).
On October 1, 2024, all such employees will be subject to the contractual cap on vacation accumulation.
Options for Employees with Excess Vacation Accruals
- Request to use your excess vacation time.
- Consider donation of excess vacation time.
How to Donate Vacation Time
The intent of this program is to provide a means to assist employees who, because of long term personal illness, have exhausted their leave benefits and would otherwise be subject to a severe loss of income during a continuing absence from work.
Eligibility to Donate
- Must have a minimum vacation balance of at least 10 days after making the donation.
- Donations must be made in full day units.
The Timing of Your Donation Matters
Employees may not donate vacation credits which would otherwise have been forfeited.
This means that there must be at least the same number of work days remaining in the calendar year as days you are donating.
EXAMPLE:
To donate 5 days, there must still be 5 work days remaining in the calendar year that you would have been able to use vacation days. A donation of 5 days would need to be submitted no later than December 21, 2023 close of business.
Contact an Expert
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UB HR Time and Attendance
State Benefit Services
Phone: 716-645-7777
