Handbook of Operating Procedures 5-4120
Holiday Leave
The University of Texas at Austin
Executive Sponsor: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Policy Owner: Associate VP for Human Resources Services
November 1, 2001
The University of Texas at Austin provides paid holiday leave in accordance with provisions of the Texas Government Code.
This policy applies to any employee who is appointed to work at least twenty (20) hours per week for a period of at least four and one-half (4 1/2) continuous months. For purposes of this policy, faculty must be appointed for at least fifty percent (50%) time for at least four and one-half (4 1/2) continuous months. Students employed in positions that require student status as a condition of employment are not covered by this policy.
Employees appointed less than full-time will be granted holiday leave based on the percent of hours appointed.
The number of holidays is authorized by the Legislature in the current Appropriations Act. The University administration may rearrange the approved holiday schedule within the total number of days provided by the Legislature to the extent authorized by law. The schedule is distributed to employees annually.
A holiday schedule may include some number of floating holiday hours, that may be used by full-time, regular employees. Regular employees appointed for less than 40 hours receive floating holiday hour entitlement proportionate to the number of hours worked. Use of floating holiday time may be scheduled at any time during the fiscal year with the prior approval of the employee's immediate supervisor. Unused floating holiday time carries over from one year to the next. Employees are paid for any unused floating holiday time upon separation from the University.
If a state or national holiday falls between the dates an employee transfers, without a break in service, from one state agency or institution of higher education to another, the agency to which the employee transfers is responsible for paying the employee for the holiday, regardless of whether the agency or institution of higher education that received the new employee recognizes the holiday.
When a holiday falls on an employee's day off or an employee is required to work on a holiday, the employee will be granted straight time holiday compensatory time in lieu of the holiday. Employees may be paid for holiday compensatory time hours on a straight time basis when the taking of the holiday compensatory time would be disruptive to normal teaching, research or other critical functions. The holiday compensatory time must be taken or paid out during the 12-month period following the date of the holiday.
The holiday compensatory time may also be used to observe any additional religious holiday or holidays, or state or national holiday that is not officially observed by the University. This time off must be scheduled with the prior approval of the employee's immediate supervisor.
Use of accrued holiday time must be scheduled with the prior approval of the employee's immediate supervisor. The employee shall promptly and accurately record the use of leave.
The supervisor must review and approve the holiday leave, verify that the employee has accurately recorded such leave, and sign the time report.
Authority is hereby delegated to the department head or designee to determine holiday work schedules and approve use of leave.
For Assistance: Questions regarding holiday leave should be directed to the Human Resources, Benefits Services Section, or to the website: http://www.utexas.edu/hr.
Electronic time sheet website: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/pntime.
Source: Texas Government Code 662.004, 662.007, 662.0072, 
662.011; Regents' Rules and Regulations, Rule 30201
Previous policy: HOP 9.62