News

Winter Closure Reminder

winter

In preparation for the upcoming holiday season, employees should be aware of both holiday and winter closure dates. More information on the Winter Closure - including definitions of Hard and Soft Closure - can be found on the benefits website.

  • Paid Holidays
    • Winter Holiday: Monday, December 25 & Tuesday, December 26, 2023
    • New Year: Monday, January 1 & Tuesday, January 2, 2024
  • Winter Closure
    • Hard Closure: December 25, 2023 through January 2, 2024
    • Soft Closure: December 18, 2023 through January 5, 2024

Four days of the winter closure period are paid holidays: December 25 & 26, January 1 & 2. Three days of the winter closure period (Hard Closure) — December 27, 28 and 29 — are not paid holidays. On those days, employees will need to use Annual Leave, Leave Without Pay, Faculty Time Off or Personal Holiday. Likewise, employees who choose to participate in the Soft Closure period will need to take Annual Leave, Leave Without Pay, Faculty Time Off or Personal Holiday. 

Some departments must remain open during the Hard Closure. Supervisors and unit leaders should consult with their president, chancellor, vice president, chief officer, provost, or vice chancellor, as appropriate, to determine required staffing levels to maintain university operations. It is the employee’s responsibility to submit their timesheet during Hard Closure and the supervisor’s responsibility to approve timesheets during Hard Closure.  This can be done early, so please plan ahead. Units wishing to consider partial or full closure during Soft Closure days should work with their respective leadership point of contact. Leadership will work with the department/unit to make sure operating needs are met.

Once the business hours for a department have been determined and announced by the supervisor, employees should coordinate with their supervisor regarding leave options and schedules. Employees should be aware that retirement eligibility (PERS and TRS) may be affected if leave without pay exceeds 10 days in a calendar year. 

If you have questions about UA Holidays, please contact your direct supervisor or ua-benefits@alaska.edu.

Emailed via benefits newsletter on 12/12/23.
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