Important information on changes to holiday pay for municipal employees

From: COH - Broadcast Message
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 4:55 PM
To: COH - All Employees
Subject: Important information on changes to holiday pay for municipal employees

Important information on changes to holiday pay for municipal employees

On Wednesday, December 3, the Mayor and City Council authorized an improvement to the holiday benefits for municipal employees. The new ordinance describes how you will be compensated if you do not work on a city council-declared holiday, and if you do work on the holiday.

Because we are an employer responsible for providing vital services to 2+ million citizens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, many of our employees are required to work on holidays they would otherwise spend at home with their families. It was important we let these employees know we value their work by providing extra compensation for the time they work on city holidays.

This new benefit is effective immediately, and will apply to the upcoming holidays in December. It is based on how the holiday falls during your regular work schedule. Here are the key features:

1. If the holiday falls on a day you are scheduled to work, and you are not required to work on the holiday, you will receive holiday pay at straight time for your scheduled hours. This was not changed.

2. If the holiday falls on your day off and you are not required to work, you will receive holiday pay at straight time for the number of hours you normally work. This might be 8 hours (5/8 schedule), 10 hours (4/10 schedule), or 9 hours (9/80 schedule).

3. If you are required to work on a holiday, whether you are scheduled to work or not, you will be paid straight time for all the hours you work, and will either be paid holiday premium or accrue time off at one and a half times the number of hours you work that day. In other words, you will receive compensation at two and a half times your regular rate of pay for all the hours you are required to work on a holiday. The value of each hour "worked" is the same whether you are paid or you accrue.

4. Your department director (or designee) will decide if you will be paid holiday premium or will accrue time for hours worked on a holiday. Your supervisor should notify you at the time you are told you are required to work whether you will be paid or accrue hours for future use.

5. You will have 180 days to use accrued holidays, however, there are a few rules. If you do not use accrued holiday hours within 180 days, you will be paid for those hours. Every effort must be made by both you and your supervisor to use the time within the 180 days. Any unused hours will not be paid when you terminate employment.

6. Holiday hours worked count towards overtime. However, holiday hours not worked do not count towards overtime.


Click here for Holiday Pay FAQs

This improved benefit came as a result of a commitment the city made in the agreement with HOPE to review the holiday benefit. After a thorough review, the city developed this improved holiday benefit, reviewed it with HOPE representatives, and presented it to city council for approval. The information provided here is a summary of what was approved. If you need more detail information or still have questions, be sure to contact your department HR Liaison.