UK Announces Additional Holiday Benefit for Employees

Last year, the University of Kentucky provided December 24, 2008, as paid holiday/bonus day leave time for eligible faculty and staff.  This year, in lieu of setting a firm date for that holiday as Dec. 24, 2009, UK is allowing all eligible faculty and staff to take an additional holiday/bonus day (in addition to existing bonus days between December 25, 2009 and January 1, 2010) on a date of the employee's choice.

This special “floating” holiday/bonus day, which is non-recurring, may be taken on any day between Sept. 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010.  While you may request December 24 as the date for use of this floating holiday, I felt that it was appropriate to allow employees the option of choosing a date most beneficial to them and their families.   

The holiday benefit is afforded to all eligible employees, including UK Chandler Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital employees.

The reason for this "floating holiday" is to provide employees with a small token of acknowledgment and appreciation of our employees' commitment to moving UK forward and advancing the University's goals and mission in 2009-10.  We continue to be faced with a remarkably difficult economic climate and budget circumstances, and our collective success in 2009 in the face of these challenges has been extraordinary. 

Please note the following regarding this special holiday:

·     An employee in a regular position with a full-time equivalent (FTE) of 0.5 or greater is entitled to regular pay on a holiday/bonus day.

·     An employee who is in an unpaid status on a scheduled day immediately before or after a holiday shall not be paid for the holiday.

·     An employee on authorized vacation leave shall not be charged vacation leave for a holiday that occurs while the employee is on vacation leave.

·     In keeping with University policy on existing special holidays/bonus days, departments should take into account any special staffing needs when scheduling floating holiday usage.

The University continues to band together to move the Commonwealth forward, and the innovation and success in everything from our academic programs to groundbreaking research is exemplified in both the diversity and volume of our accomplishments.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for providing such great service and making a strong contribution toward the well-being of our students, patients, and fellow employees.

-President Lee T. Todd, Jr.