This section provides an overview of many benefits available to faculty and staff. In the event of conflict between the overview provided in this handbook and the plan document or insurance plan, the plan document or insurance plan will govern. Complete descriptions are not possible in the handbook; employees should contact Human Resources for specific plan details. The Labor Agreement governs in the case of Union employees in all aspects of this section. Regular non-union employees who have a schedule involving a (.46) FTE or above, and Union employees who have a (.50) FTE or above are eligible to participate in the College’s benefit programs.

Carleton College will comply with all applicable laws such as ACA, FMLA, federal, state, and any applicable regulations.

Employment & Benefits

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Holidays & Winter Break

Holidays

The College observes the following holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Juneteenth
• Fourth of July
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Native American Heritage Day
• Christmas Eve Day
• Christmas Day

In addition, the College provides three floating holidays.

When Juneteenth or Fourth of July holiday fall on a Sunday, whenever possible, the following Monday will be observed. If the holiday falls on a Saturday, whenever possible, the preceding Friday will be observed.

Regular, benefit-eligible, non-exempt, employees will be paid holiday pay for every College holiday based on their budgeted FTE. The floating holidays accrue based on hours paid.

Winter Break

In an effort to provide employees a collective time for rest and renewal, Carleton will plan to observe an annual Winter Break. We will pair winter break days with the December 24, 25, and January 1 holidays to create a break that allows most employees one consecutive week of time off at the end of the calendar year. This collective time off should allow employees an opportunity to fully step away from work.

While we recognize that Carleton’s academic calendar means that we will need to plan carefully to be prepared for the start of Winter Term classes and that some work must continue during Winter Break, we believe that having time off during a period when many other institutions are also limiting their operations will provide the most genuine “break” experience.

This time of rest and renewal allows us all to return to campus refreshed and energized for the New Year.

Additional details

• Generally, the College will assign the Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s Day holidays adjacent to the Winter Break days (foregoing the previous pattern of observing the holiday on a Friday or Monday if the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday). Moving forward, when a holiday falls on a weekend, Carleton will observe the holiday on a regular workday (Monday-Friday).
• Although generally intended to create one full week off between December 24 and January 1, the timing and duration of the Winter Break will vary from year to year.
• In future years there may be fewer Winter Break days, or no Winter Break days, because of the changing needs of the College. Winter Break schedules will be communicated annually when holiday schedules are released.
• Winter Break eligibility applies to all benefits eligible staff regularly scheduled to work on the days designated as Winter Break days. Full time employees will be provided 8 hours paid time off for each Winter Break day and prorated by an employee’s budgeted FTE.
• Supervisors will have both the responsibility and the authority to determine which staff members will be required to work during the Winter Break. Winter Break will not constitute a College “shutdown”, as some operations will be required to ensure continuity of services. The days covered by the Winter Break are not additional holidays, vacation days, or floating holidays and as such are not subject to any type of additional pay. These days are considered a paid College break, and employees who are required to work on these days will be paid at their normal rate of pay with an opportunity to take the additional days at another time prior to the end of the fiscal year. The days are not eligible for carryover into the new fiscal year or payout if a person leaves employment without having used the days.

A new Winter Break Day code was created for time reporting purposes. Eligible employees will receive instruction annually on how to report winter break hours.

Last Revised: April 1, 2010

For: Staff

Last Reviewed: November 10, 2021

Maintained by: Human Resources

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