November 2011

Senior Field Representative
Nancy Tate

Vacation Requests

This article is being written for the members of the Specialized Peace Officer Unit & Specialized Peace Officer Supervisory Unit.

Have you ever put in a request for vacation time off and never receive a response back prior to taking the day off? The MOU states in part that when you submit a written request for vacation leave, you shall receive a written response from the appointing authority within two (2) weeks of submission. Of course that means your request has to be at least 2 weeks prior to the actual day you are requesting off.

The Probation Department Leave Time Request Policy states in part that, it is the responsibility of each employee, prior to submitting request for time off, to confirm that they will have available to him or her, the time, which they are requesting, by the leave date requested.

Each employee is also responsible to confirm that all Leave Time requests have been received and approved/denied by their immediate supervisor or leave committee.

Employees may request leave time for any future date(s) within the next twelve (12) months. The Leave Time Request shall be returned to the employee as soon as possible, but within fourteen (14) days of submission, acknowledging the date and time received by timestamp, and that the request will be approved, denied or placed on a waiting list. Approvals are made on a "first submitted - first approved basis." Holiday and Special Days of Interest leave time requests will be finalized within fourteen (14) days of the beginning of the next scheduling period, and notification of approval or denial will be made at that time. Leave time requests made less than fourteen (14) days prior to the requested day off may be returned with an immediate notification of approval or denial.

The quarterly time period is only for Holidays, Special Days of Interest and periods of time exceeding forty (40) hours or more that contain a Holiday or Days of Special Interest.

If you do not receive written notice of approval, do not assume you have the day off. If you do assume that and take the day off without approval, you will be absent without pay (AWOP) for the day. Instead of assuming anything I would suggest you ask your supervisor. If you do not get a response after that, we can always file a grievance against your department for violating the MOU.

Remember this, do not go out and purchase expensive trip tickets without getting prior approval from your supervisor. If you do and then you are denied the time off there is no guarantee you will be allowed to take the time just because you already spent money on the trip.

Please contact your field representative if you have any questions.