Holiday Closing Period for Faculty and Staff

Jodi D. Gentry, Vice President for Human Resources

In keeping with past practice, the University of Florida will be closed Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas), and Wednesday, January 1 (New Year’s Day), as well as the holiday closing period of December 26 through December 31. This holiday closing period is designed to offer departments the flexibility to close or significantly reduce staffing during the holiday season. The university will reopen Thursday, January 2.

All TEAMS employees, 12-month Academic Personnel and postdoctoral associates have been credited with four personal leave days to be used during the holiday closing period of December 26 through 31. Eligible employees who are considered “essential” and will be required to work at any time December 26 through 31 may have their work schedules adjusted to use their four personal days between now and June 30, 2020, based on departmental needs. Please note: Essential personnel for this holiday closing period are not necessarily the same personnel who may be required to work during a campus emergency such as a hurricane closure. As in the past, UF vice presidents – working with deans, directors and department chairs – determine which employees are required to work to support campus operations during this period.

USPS employees are not eligible for the four personal leave days in December and may be required to use vacation or accrued compensatory leave during the holiday closing period due to a department closing or upon supervisory request. In the event USPS employees do not have enough vacation leave to cover the closing period, they may request vacation leave be advanced to cover that absence, in which case departments are obligated to provide such leave. The holiday closing period is the only time vacation leave may be advanced. USPS employees may also elect to use leave without pay during this time.

The UF College of Medicine, UF Health Physician practices and UF Health Hospitals in Gainesville and Jacksonville will remain open for patient care. UF faculty, staff, residents and students with clinical responsibilities who are assigned to the Gainesville and Jacksonville UF Health campuses must check with their respective colleges, departments and clinical leaders to determine their work schedules during the holiday period.

The UF Veterinary Hospital will remain open the entire holiday period. The College of Dentistry in Gainesville will provide urgent care to patients of record who contact their dentist between December 25 and 31; dental emergencies/trauma patients will be treated through UF Health Shands as normal during weekends and the holiday closing. UF dental centers in Gainesville and St. Petersburg close beginning December 25 and reopen for normal services on January 2. The UF dental center in Hialeah closes beginning December 25 and reopens on January 6. The UF dental center in Naples closes beginning December 24 and reopens on January 2.

Additional information on the holiday closing period, as well as the holiday schedule for 2020, may be found on the UFHR website at https://benefits.hr.ufl.edu/time-away/holidays/. If you have questions, please contact Leave Administration at (352) 392-2477 or central-leave@ufl.edu.   

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!