Section 1.
1. All employees shall accrue vacation as follows:
0 - 2 years 10 days
2 - 6 years 15 days
6 + years 20 days
20+ years 22 days
2. When feasible, vacation shall be granted for the time requested by the employee. If the nature of the work makes it necessary to limit the number of employees on vacation at the same time, the employee with the greatest seniority shall be given his/her choice of vacation.
3. At the end of any calendar year, the maximum accumulated vacation is the amount the employee accrued during that year.
4. If a holiday occurs during any paid vacation period, the employee shall receive credit for that holiday.
5. Any employee who is laid off, retired or separated from the service of the Hospital prior to his/her taking vacation leave shall be paid for any unused vacation leave he/she has accumulated. Employees who resign must give notice equal to his/her annual vacation accrual or forfeit all accrual time. Employees discharged for just cause forfeit their accrued vacation time.
6. In the case of the death of an employee, accumulated vacation leave shall be paid to the employee's estate.
7. Employees on an approved paid leave will continue to accrue vacation according to length of service and regular work schedules.
8. Prior to commencing vacation, employees will receive payment for the salary they will earn during their vacation leave to the extent that they have earned or accrued such vacation time and provided that at least a one-week vacation is to be taken and the employee has notified his/her department head at least thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of the vacation.
9. Part-time employees accrue vacation on a pro-rata basis in accordance with Article 15.
10. The Hospital will approve vacation for blocks of (5) five days or more on an annual basis. Vacations taken in increments of less than (5) five days will be subject to Article 20 (Holidays) Section 7 paragraph two. The Hospital will set a date for all vacation requests for the entire year. The Hospital will respond to those requests within twenty-one (21) calendar days from the requested submission date. The Department Manager will distribute a vacation preference schedule January 1st of each year. The employees will make their preference selection by March 1st and return them to their Department Manager. The Department Manager will finalize the schedule and publish it April 1st. If an employee makes no selection by March 1st, vacations will be granted on a first come, first serve basis. Regular part-time employees will receive a proportionate vacation benefit. No more than three weeks (3) of an employee’s vacation may be scheduled during the months of June, July, August, November and December of any year. Employees may take the same vacation period for (2) two years, consecutively, or longer, if there are no other requests. All vacation requests are subject to approval. Switching of vacation may occur up to thirty days prior to the scheduled vacations.
11. New employees can use their vacation after six (6) months of continuous employment. However, should an employee break their employment or be terminated prior to nine (9) months of employment, said employee must reimburse the Hospital for their used vacation.
12. Employees who call in sick immediately preceding or immediately following a vacation, may, at management’s discretion, be required to produce a doctor’s certificate to his/her supervisor within five (5) days of notification, or the employee will not be eligible for sick pay.
