Vacation time & COVID-19: A message from your Chief Steward

By Communications Chair May 12, 2020 Communications

From UVic-Working From Home-Staff (https://www.uvic.ca/covid-19/faculty-staff/work/staff/index.php):

Q: I have previously approved vacation, can I cancel or defer it to later in the year or perhaps next year?

A: While COVID-19 has unfortunately disrupted vacation plans for all of us, time off work to recharge is as important today as it has ever been. Further, with our emerging budget challenges, supervisors and employees are expected to review vacation schedules to ensure that all staff take their full annual vacation during this calendar year. This is subject only to any normal vacation carry forward limits in the applicable collective agreement or terms and conditions handbook.

From the CUPE 951 Collective Agreement:

22.05 Regular employees in their first calendar year of service may, with the approval of their department heads, carry over a vacation entitlement of up to 4 working days. Other regular employees must take a minimum of 10 working days vacation, and, with the prior approval of their department heads, may carry over any portion of an annual vacation entitlement in excess of 10 working days from 1 calendar year to the next. No carryover of unused vacation entitlement may exceed 15 working days, except by agreement of the parties in unusual circumstances. Applications for such carry over must be submitted in writing by employees to their department head, with a copy to the Associate Vice-President of Human Resources, who will make every effort to ensure that all such applications receive equitable treatment throughout the University.

22.09 (a) Subject to bona fide operational requirements, the University will make every reasonable effort to approve vacations at times which are requested by employees.

(b) Within a unit or department, where more than 1 employee has requested the same vacation period and it is not possible to approve all such requests, then approval will be granted on a rotational basis by seniority. Previously approved vacations will have priority over late or amended requests for vacation. For the purposes of this Article, rotation does not necessarily mean on an annual basis. Where there is a conflict between two or more employees within a unit or department regarding a vacation request, each conflict will be decided by giving the preference to the senior employee on that particular occasion. The next time there is a conflict, the next senior employee will be given the preference.

If you have questions or concerns please contact chiefstewardcupe951@uvic.ca