Holidays

Adopted by Spokane Public Library Board of Trustees on November 21, 1994; revised August 6, 2001; revised April 16, 2003; revised August 21, 2012; revised November 7, 2018; revised November 2019; revised December 2020; revised January 2023; revised November 18, 2025.

HOLIDAYS

Paid time off for established holidays is provided as a benefit to all regular, full-time and part-time library employees in compliance with this policy and the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between AFSCME Local 270 and the Library.  Extra help and seasonal employees regularly scheduled to work less than twenty hours per week do not have the benefit of paid holidays.

HOLIDAYS & NON-HOLIDAY CLOSURES

All library facilities will observe the following holidays:

New Year’s Day                                January 1

Martin Luther King Day                 Third Monday in January

Presidents Day                                 Third Monday in February

Memorial Day                                   Last Monday in May

Juneteenth                                         June 19

Independence Day                          July 4

Labor Day                                            First Monday in September

Veterans Day                                      November 11

Thanksgiving Day                             Fourth Thursday in November

Day After Thanksgiving                  Fourth Friday in November

Day Before Christmas                     December 24

Christmas Day                                    December 25         

If New Year’s Eve falls on a Sunday, regularly scheduled 4:00 pm closure will occur.

The Library may, at its sole discretion, close on a day not designated above.  In this event, only the following will apply:

All employees eligible to receive holiday pay will receive holiday pay for the total number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work on the day of the recognized holiday or non-holiday Library closure.

For example:

• If a 20 hours per week employee is regularly scheduled to work 8 hours on Mondays, for the Memorial Day holiday, that employee would receive 8 hours of holiday pay.
• If a 20 hours per week employee is regularly scheduled to work 2 hours on Mondays, for the Memorial Day holiday, that employee would receive 2 hours of holiday pay.
• If a full-time (40 hours per week) employee is regularly scheduled to work 10 hours on Mondays, for the Memorial Day holiday, that employee would receive 10 hours of holiday pay.
• If a full-time (40 hours per week) employee is regularly scheduled to work 4 hours on Mondays, for the Memorial Day holiday, that employee would receive 4 hours of holiday pay.

If an employee is not regularly scheduled to work on a holiday or non-holiday closure day and does not choose to arrange for another day off with holiday pay, then they will receive holiday pay for the actual holiday on a pro-rata basis.  Such pro-rata examples are as follows:

• • 40 hours per pay period = 4 hours of holiday pay.
  • 50 hours per pay period = 5 hours of holiday pay.
  • 60 hours per pay period = 6 hours of holiday pay.
  • 80 hours per pay period = 8 hours of holiday pay.
• Sunday holidays will be observed on the following Monday and all facilities will be closed. When a holiday falls on any regular business day the library will be closed in observance of such holiday. Any Branch or Department regularly closed on that day will observe the holiday and will be closed on the following day, or on the preceding Friday in the case of Saturday holidays.
  
  
• Employees who are not scheduled to work on the holiday may, at their option, arrange for another day off with holiday pay, or may work their regular schedule and report the holiday on the day it occurs. If the employee chooses to arrange for another day off with holiday pay, then that day off must take place during the same pay period as the holiday occurs or within 45 calendar days from when the holiday occurred.
  
  
• Any employee who is a member of the bargaining unit will be paid holiday pay according to the terms of the contract between Local 270 and the library for time worked on any of the above referenced regular holidays.
  
  
• Management and professional staff will receive no additional compensation for time worked on established holidays.
  
  
• Employees who are on leave before or after a scheduled holiday will receive their regular holiday pay.
  
  
• Employees must be in a paid status the day following a holiday in order to receive holiday pay.

FLOATING HOLIDAYS

• In addition to closed holidays, each regularly scheduled, full-time employee is entitled to two floating holidays. Regularly scheduled part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week receive this benefit on a pro rata basis.
  
  
• Floating holiday dates will be chosen at the employee’s discretion with the approval the employee’s supervisor. Supervisors will reasonably accommodate scheduling requests made in order to observe religious holidays.
  
  
• Floating holiday dates are generally chosen at the beginning of the year, at the same time that vacations are scheduled. Workload requirements and continuity of public service are the compelling factors in scheduling floating holidays.  Scheduling conflicts will be resolved at the service area level.
  
  
• Floating holiday time may be used on an hourly basis.
  
  
• Floating holidays may not be scheduled or used after December 15^th each year.
  
  

• Unused floating holidays are not carried over into the next year and will not be paid at termination.

VOLUNTEER DAYS, PROFESSIONAL & MANAGEMENT STAFF

• Regularly scheduled, full-time, professional or management employees are entitled to two volunteer days each calendar year. The volunteer days are designed to be used as a replacement for a regular day of work. Staff will receive their regular compensation for each day of volunteer service.
  
  
• The volunteer days must be approved by the staff members’ manager, with support from HR, as needed. Managers may request documentation about the organization being served, as well as time volunteered and specifics of attendance.
  
  
• Employees may use volunteer time to contribute time and talents to recognized charities, causes, or not-for-profit organizations, making a positive difference in the community. The volunteering benefit may not be used for organizations that discriminate based on creed, race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or any other legally protected classification.