Case Western Reserve University staff can get a head start on their holiday weekend, as administrative offices close at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27. Those affected will be paid as if they worked a full day.
Supervisors are expected to let employees leave at 3 p.m.—not earlier or later.
Based on the nature of duties and/or unexpected developments, some offices will need to remain open after 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve. Non-exempt employees unable to leave early on the designated day either may take off two alternate hours during that work week (at days and times designated by their supervisors) or, upon approval of their supervisors, will receive straight overtime pay for the two hours they are required to work.
If operational demands require that exempt employees be present after 3 p.m., the possibility of alternative time off will be determined by their supervisors.
Below are additional guidelines involving the policy:
- Supervisors should arrange for coverage for their offices as necessary, and in a way that does not result in overtime expense.
- The time provided for early dismissal is not considered vacation time; therefore, an employee’s vacation time does not decrease. The time also does not accumulate, nor is it paid out when an employee leaves the university.
- Employees who call off sick on Thanksgiving Eve will be required to take a full sick day. Similarly, employees taking a vacation day will be required to take a full vacation day of either 7.5 or 8 hours, depending on whether an employee works a 37.5- or a 40-hour workweek. Similarly, an employee who takes a half-day of vacation that day will be required to record it as a full half day off work.
- The early dismissal does not apply to employees who are on approved leave from the university.
University offices also are closed Thanksgiving Day and the following day (Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29).