Additional “Floating” Holiday Set for UK Employees

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 8, 2010) -- President Lee T. Todd Jr. recently announced that the University of Kentucky will provide an additional holiday/bonus day to regular campus (non-UK HealthCare) staff and faculty. This non-recurring, “floating” holiday may be taken any time between now and June 30, 2011.

“This special arrangement is provided for our campus staff, for whom we were unable to provide merit increases this year. While I wish we could do more, this special holiday and the recent one-time payment are given in appreciation of your hard work and dedication,” Todd said in an e-mail to all university employees.

The additional holiday will not apply to employees working in UK hospitals, clinics, College of Medicine clinical departments, University Health Service and UK HealthCare corporate areas. Improving financial conditions will enable UK HealthCare to fund annual merit increases, effective October 2010, for employees in those areas.

“We look forward to a time when our budget situation again allows for annual merit increases for all UK employees,” said Todd.

“Wherever you work across the university, I want you to know we appreciate your efforts,” said Todd. “Because of you, we have continued to make progress toward our shared goals, even in the face of unprecedented economic and budgetary challenges. Our ability to come together and address these challenges says much about what it means to work at the University of Kentucky.”

Please note the following details about the floating holiday.

-- An employee in a regular position employed on or before Sept. 1, 2010, with a full-time equivalent (FTE) of 0.5 or greater is entitled to receive a floating holiday at his or her regular rate of pay.

-- 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.

For more details on employee use of holiday leave, visit HR Policy & Procedure 83.0: Holiday Leave at http://www.uky.edu/HR/policies/hrpp083.html .