How are the
Laboratory's holidays determined?
Our holidays are
specified in Appendix A to the DOE/UC contract for management of the
Laboratory. The current holidays are New Year's Day, third Monday
in January (Martin Luther King Day), third Monday in February (President's
Day), last Monday in May (Memorial Day), Fourth of July, Thanksgiving
Day), Friday following Thanksgiving Day, December 24th, Christmas
Day, December 31st, and one additional holiday to be selected by the
President of the University (delegated to chancellors and laboratory
directors).
Are these the
same holidays as the rest of the University has?
LLNL has the same
holidays. LANL has a slightly different list but the same number of
holidays. The campuses have the same list and an additional holiday
on Veterans' Day.
Do all the
University locations have the same administrative holiday?
No. Each location
sets the holiday that meets their particular needs. For instance,
many of the campuses use the holiday in the Spring. Some, mainly the
medical centers, use it as a floating holiday. LBNL has used it during
the winter holiday shutdown so that employees need use only two days
of vacation or leave-without-pay during that time.
What is happening
now with the holidays? Why?
In 2000, the California
Legislature established the fourth Friday in March as a paid holiday
for state employees in honor of Cesar Chavez. As a State institution,
the University Office of the President (UCOP) proposed observance
of this holiday by renaming the "additional holiday" Cesar
Chavez Day and observing it as established by the Legislature. All
UC locations would have to observe this as the official holiday, including
those that used the administrative holiday as a floating holiday.
This change would take place over a period of time in order to make
any necessary adjustments to the academic calendars.
What happened
next?
In January 2002,
the proposal was sent to all University locations with the request
that employees be asked for comment with feedback to UCOP. On February
6, 2002, LBNL issued a level-1 memo on the proposed change, and asked
employees to comment on the proposal as put forward by UCOP.
How did employees
respond?
The Human Resources
Department received 158 employee comments. This is the largest number
of comments received to a proposed policy change in recent memory.
Of the 158, 148 were against the proposal and 10 were in favor.
While the majority
of the negative responses dealt with the issue of being forced to
use a third vacation or leave-without-pay day during the winter holiday
shutdown, a number of other reasons were also cited. Included in the
list were family reasons, displeasure that the Lab already has fewer
holidays than the campuses (Veterans' Day), sentiments that we should
honor our veterans before a local personage, and unhappiness that
UCOP is forcing employees to pay with a vacation day for its desire
to be politically correct. (It must be noted that none of those who
expressed negative opinions were against honoring Cesar Chavez with
a holiday; the feelings were against giving up a vacation day to do
so.)
How did the
Laboratory respond to UCOP as a result of the employee comments?
Director Shank
wrote a letter to then Assistant Vice President Levin with the results
of the comments and his concern that imposing this change on the Laboratory
would have negative consequences on morale. A cross-section sampling
of the comments (both for and against) were included as an attachment.
He noted that several employees had suggested a floating holiday that
could be used on either Cesar Chavez Day or during the shutdown and
that he supported the suggestion.
What was the
result?
The Lab requested
an exception to allow employees to use a floating holiday that could
be use on on Cesar Chavez Day, Veterans' Day, or during the winter
holiday shutdown. The choice would be up to the individual employee
UCOP approved
this exception and the proposed policy change was then disseminated
for employee comment and implementation is schedule for January 1,
2003. The new policy can be found at (link to new policy)
Do all Lab
employees get this limited floating holiday?
No, the policy
change in the RPM is for non-represented employees only. Employees
represented by AFSCME-SX and UPTE-TX units already have a floating
holiday as provided in their respective bargaining agreements. Employees
represented by other exclusive bargaining agents will continue to
observe the Administrative holiday during the winter holiday shutdown.
Why did the Lab
ask for a limited floating holiday and not one that could be used
at any time?
Lab management
felt that Laboratory had a good case for an exception based on the
employee comment. Since the policy enacted system-wide would force
those locations with a floating holiday that could be used at any
time to give it up, it was felt that the Lab would have a better chance
to get the exception if its used was limited.
Why didn't the
Lab just keep the administrative holiday during the winter holiday
shutdown and let those people who wanted to take Cesar Chavez or Veterans'
Day as a holiday use their vacation?
Management felt
the limited floating holiday proposal was the most likely exception
to receive UCOP approval while providing employees with the ability
to manage the use of their vacation in the way most meaningful to
them as individuals.
Won't this
be hard to manage? How do we enter time?
See the Implementation
guidance, which includes LETS time entry instructions and eligibility
criteria.
When is the
first day an eligible employee can use his/her floating holiday?
March 28, 2003.
