Pay & Leave

Frequently Asked Questions
Holiday FAQs

The following are the most frequently asked questions about holiday season leave and premium pay. This information is available in the Policies and Procedures (P&P's) 402.6, Leave and 402.3, Premium Pay. It is provided for distribution and is applicable to all REE employees.

Holiday Leave

Q1. When are employees who are excused from working on a holiday entitled to holiday leave?

A1. According to the Comptroller General, employees in a pay status on the workday immediately before or after a holiday are entitled to holiday leave. This is true even if employees are in a pay status for as little as 15 minutes on the workday immediately before or after the holiday.

Q2. What is the maximum amount of holiday leave REE employees may receive on a holiday?

A2. Employees may receive a maximum of 8 hours holiday leave for any one holiday.

NOTE: Employees on flexible work schedules who have an off-day (Regular Day Off -RDO) that is a holiday or an in-lieu-of holiday will change the off-day, before the beginning of the pay period in which the holiday occurs, to another day of the pay period that is acceptable to the supervisor (P&P 402.3, Premium Pay)

Q3. How much holiday leave do part-time employees receive?

A3. Part-time employees excused from working on a holiday are entitled to holiday leave for the number of hours they were scheduled to work that day, as stated on the SF-52 that established their tour of duty. For example, part-time employees scheduled to work for 4 hours on Monday, September 7, 1998, receive 4 hours of holiday leave if they are excused from work on that day.

Q4. May part-time employees amend their work schedules to include a holiday as part of their basic work requirement?

A4. Supervisors have the authority to approve work schedule changes. However, if the only reason for the change is to obtain holiday leave during a particular pay period, supervisors are advised to not approve the requested schedule.

Q5(a).If I am an exempt employee attending a meeting during a holiday how am I compensated?

This must be reviewed on a case by case basis, every circumstance can be different. For specific cases, please contact your assigned Pay and Leave Personnel Management Specialist for specific guidance and advice.

Q5(b).If I am a nonexempt employee attending a meeting during a holiday how am I compensated.

Same as Q5(a).

Q6. Are employees entitled to holiday leave when they are stationed in a foreign country?

A6. Yes, if they are excused from working on the holiday.

Q7. If, during the upcoming Christmas/New Year season, the President or Secretary of Agriculture releases us from work as a good-will gesture at 1 p.m. on December 24 or 31, may employees absent on previously approved leave be granted a like amount of time off on another day?

A7. Unfortunately, there is no authority for an "in lieu of" (or makeup) excused absence. If employees cannot take advantage of an excused absence because they are not on duty, they do not receive the benefit of the early release.

Q8. How is holiday leave recorded on our time and attendance reports?

A8.Timekeepers in ARS, CSREES, and ERS should use transaction code 66. NASS timekeepers should use transaction code 399.

Holiday Premium Pay

Q9.When are employees entitled to holiday premium pay?

A9. Except for SES and intermittent staff, REE employees who are assigned to work during their basic work requirement on a holiday are entitled to holiday premium pay, not to exceed 8 hours. SES employees are prohibited by law from earning holiday premium pay.

Q10. How is holiday work compensated?

A10. Employees who perform work on a holiday, which meets the above criteria, are paid at their rate of basic pay plus premium pay at a rate equal to the rate of basic pay (although technically not accurate, some would call this a "double-time" pay rate).

Q11. Is there a minimum number of hours of holiday premium pay that must be paid?

A11. Yes, there is a 2 hour minimum.

Q12. May employees stationed in a foreign country earn holiday premium pay?

A12. Yes, if they meet the criteria discussed in the answer to question 8 above.

Q13. How is holiday premium pay recorded on our time and attendance reports?

A13. ARS, CSREES, and ERS timekeepers should use transaction code 31 and transaction code 66. NASS timekeepers should show the number of hours worked and indicate at the appropriate menu selection that it was a holiday.

CREDIT TIME EARNED ON THE HOLIDAY

Q14.Can an employee earn credit hours on a holiday?

A14 (a).Yes, an employee can earn credit hours on a holiday if the employee performs work outside of their regularly scheduled tour of duty up to the allowable maximum.

EXAMPLE: A full-time employee who performs work on a holiday outside of their basic work requirement would receive credit hours for the hours of work, with supervisory approval (e.g., the employee would normally work 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., performs work from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., would earn 2 hours of credit time).

A14(b).No, an employee cannot earn credit hours on a holiday if the employee performs work within their basic work requirement.

EXAMPLE: A full-time employee who performs work on a holiday within their basic work requirement would not receive credit hours for all of the hours of work (e.g., the employee would normally work 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., performs work from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., would earn credit time from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.; credit hours could not be earned from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., as they correspond with the employee's basic work requirement).

Credit hours are those hours worked at the initiative of the employee, with supervisory approval, that are in excess of the employee's basic work requirement. Full-time employees may earn up to a maximum of 24 hours. Part-time employees may earn up to 25% of their tour of duty (e.g., PT employee who has a tour of duty of 40 hours p/pay period can only earn 10 hours (or 25% of 40 hours) of credit time).

OVERTIME TIME EARNED ON THE HOLIDAY

Q15.Can an employee earn overtime time on a holiday?

A15.Yes, overtime are those hours of work initiated, ordered and approved by management, performed by the employee in excess of 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.

EXAMPLE: An employee who regularly works a 9-hour day, works 10 hours on a holiday (one hour is overtime work that is ordered by management). This employee will receive 8 hours of holiday premium pay (the maximum, ref: A8 and A9 above); 1 hour of basic pay (within the basic work requirement) and 1 hour of overtime.

For a listing of all official U.S. Holidays, please refer to Policies and Procedures 402.3, Premium Pay, Section 7. Questions? Clarification? More Information? --- Please call:

Ted Nykiel on 301-504-4426, Terri Ponte on 301-504-1474, Michelyn Boyd on 301-504-1466

Last Updated 06/05/2007