June 12, 2002

HR's punitive vacation policy

I've seen this question asked of John Browne in the "Ask the Director" at least once, perhaps more, but he's dodged the essential issue each time by mentioning distractions about how generous the Lab is with holidays, 9/80 schedules and so on. Perhaps it's time for a more stimulating discussion in the Reader's Forum.

After 10 years of service, the University of California regular employees hired after Dec. 1, 1992 accrue vacation at a rate of 12 hours per month (increased from 10 hours per month for years 1-10), adding 24 hours per year to their vacation time earned. The Lab then subtracts that 24 hours back by eliminating the vacation grant of 24 hours for those same 10-year-plus employees for the holiday shut-down.

This is such a twisted punishment for 10 years of continuous service it is worthy of Dilbert, although seldom does Dilbert actually go this far. To receive any net gain in vacation accrual, one has to work for the Lab for 15 years, unless one is enjoying the former vacation program (offered prior to Dec. 1, 1992) of five weeks paid vacation per year with no escalation and no vacation grant.

An extra trap, which I've never seen mentioned before, exists if one on the 'B-scale' accrues 10 years of service late in a calendar year. In this case, it appears the policy denies one the vacation grant, but has not allowed one the vacation accrual during the same year to cover it. 'Borrowing' against next year's vacation time doesn't help; it just rolls the 24-hours loss from one year to the next, never actually making up for it.

The point isn't about whether or not the Lab's overall benefits are generous. The point is the existing policy is unfair, punitive and de-motivating.

The Lab, to be honest and fair with its employees, should change AM 312 to maintain the vacation grant for all 'B-scale vacation plan' employees until they reach 16-hours-per-month (24 8-hour days/year) accrual rates, which would then accrue on the par with employees on the 'A-scale' vacation plan which was in effect until Dec. 1, 1992.

--Carl T. Gilbert