The Office of Human Resources reminds Penn State employees of the remaining 2015 holiday/close-down day schedule and related policy for University employees.
The days are:
- Thanksgiving — Nov. 26
- Nov. 27 (close-down day)
- Winter Break — Dec. 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 and 31 and Jan. 1, 2016
Additional information about Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving holiday will be observed on Thursday, Nov. 26. Thanksgiving Friday will be considered a close-down day. It will not be considered a “holiday,” so provisions for premium pay and the like do not apply. Human Resources Guideline HRG10, “Handling ‘Weather Day’ Absences of Official University Closedowns Due to Weather Conditions,” provides the needed guidance for staff and technical-service employees. In general, the following will apply:
- Employees who normally work Fridays and are not required to work, including wage payroll employees who are eligible for earned time, will receive pay for the day as if they had worked. Employees who had previously scheduled a vacation day or other paid time off will not have such time charged.
- Employees who are required to work Thanksgiving Friday, including wage payroll employees who are eligible for earned time, will receive time off equivalent to the number of hours worked.
- Full-time staff and technical-service employees whose regular day off falls on Thanksgiving Friday will receive an additional day of equivalent time off to be scheduled at another time mutually agreeable to the employee and the supervisor. Although this represents an expansion of the benefit provided for in the guideline, it is in keeping with the intention of the provision of this unique benefit.
December/January holidays
University offices and operations, except for essential services, will close at the normal end-of-business times on Wednesday, Dec. 23, and will resume at normal starting times on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. The official University holidays will be Thursday, Dec. 24; Friday, Dec. 25; and Monday, Dec. 28 through Friday, Jan. 1.
This schedule is not applicable to the Penn State College of Medicine at the Hershey Medical Center.
For more information, contact your human resources representative.