VCOM Administrative and Classified Staff Handbook

and approved by all appropriate signatures to be in effect and are not considered retrospectively. Any persons approved will have a brief pilot period (60 days) for supervisor review to assure all needs of the institution are still being met before longer-term implementation. Days taken by an employee off-campus without all of the appropriate signed approvals in advance will be subtracted from annual leave. The requirement for advanced approval for a leave of absence and/or vacation days still apply. The requirements for reporting of sick leave for days off campus still applies. There may be times when there are increased risks on-campus such as the occurrence of infectious disease or dangerous climate conditions that impact the employee’s ability to work on-campus and/or at home. These will follow a separate policy. Announcement for such emergency conditions will be made by VCOM administration. Requests for work accommodations due to a temporary or permanent disability are different from the above referenced process and should be applied for through the Human Resource Office on the campus where the individual is domiciled. Hours of Work The standard workweek for all full-time employees at VCOM will consist of a five-day, 32 to 40-hour workweek schedule for every seven calendar-day period (Sunday-Saturday). Approved holidays, annual vacation days, and sick days will be counted as work hours for purposes of computing the minimum 32 to 40-hour-per-week requirement. An employee’s Division Officer determines work schedules according to staffing requirements. When scheduling employees, the Division Officer should schedule the employee in a manner that assures the employee’s work schedule does not exceed 40 hours, except for exempt employees. Meal Breaks When considering lunch schedules, what is best for the Department or Division as a whole is considered first, followed by the employee preference on the lunch hour. The final decision is based upon the needs of the department or division and the number of employees working to ensure that the department or division is covered at all times during the day (minimum of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). The lunch period should be alternated between employees within a department or division so that the department or division is always covered. The division officer will approve the schedule at the time of hire and may alter or update that schedule from time to time to meet the needs of the College. A request for a different lunch hour by an employee may be approved by the division officer or immediate supervisor from time to time for special occasions. All employees must take a meal break whether they choose to leave their office environment or not. It is the employee’s responsibility to take the breaks provided. The meal break will not be included in total required hours of work per day, except when the division officer/supervisor has designated the lunch period of the work schedule to provide for client service or meetings. • Employees working at least six consecutive hours will be afforded, at a minimum, a 20-minute meal break. • Employees who work eight consecutive hours are allotted a 30-minute meal break and at two additional 15 minute breaks. • The meal break shall not be extended to 60 minutes by combining the two 15-minute breaks with the 30 minute meal break unless approved by the supervisor. • The employee’s total breaks will not exceed 60 minutes a day and cannot be taken at the end of the day without supervisor’s approval. This should not be a daily practice but an exception. Hours of Work, Breaks, and Overtime

21