The importance of having and using office policies that cover the rules, regulations and agreements for how a health care practice is to be run cannot be overstated. Without policy known and agreed upon, you end up with confusion, inefficiency and overwork in any practice. With proper policy in place that covers all aspects of a practice including such things as discrimination, paid holidays, vacations, retirement plans, etc., staff will know what to do and the result will be a smooth running office. Below is a sample vacation policy that can be adapted to any office.
Regular full-time staff and specified regular part-time staff get an annual paid vacation. The length of your vacation is based on the length of your continuous service with the office.
Length of Continuous Service
Less than 90 Days: 0 vacation days
After 1 year: 5 vacation days
After 2 years: 10 vacation days
Vacation pay for full and specified part-time staff members is at the regular pay rate.
Vacation benefits accrue on a monthly basis. However, since vacation time is earned in 12 month increments, staff members are not eligible to take vacation time off for time worked in less than a 12 month period.
New employees begin to earn vacation pay at the end of the orientation and training period. Upon completion of this phase, eligible new employees will receive vacation benefits retroactive to the date of employment. If employment is terminated for any reason after completing the orientation and training period, the employee is entitled to payment of prorated vacation benefits earned and accrued, retroactive to the date of employment.
Staff members may be required to take their vacation while the doctor is on vacation. If the entire staff goes on vacation when the doctors does, staff members not eligible for vacation benefits may be required to cover the office during the vacation period. All vacations will be approved at the convenience of the office so that continuous patient care is assured. Conflicting requests will be decided in favor of the person with the most seniority.
Any earned and unused vacation time must be taken prior to the beginning of a leave of absence. No vacation time is earned while on a leave of absence.
If a paid holiday falls during your scheduled vacation period, you will be given an additional day off with pay or paid for the day at regular wages. No allowance will be made for sickness or other types of absence occurring during the vacation unless the staff member is hospitalized.
Staff members are required to take their earned vacation time in the year after which it has been earned. If there are extenuating circumstances (for example when the absence may severely affect office operations during a critical period), you may be requested to carry all or part of your vacation forward to the next year.
Failure to return from vacation on the scheduled date is considered job abandonment and treated as a voluntary termination.
Regular full time staff members will receive holiday pay equivalent to the straight time pay received if the holiday falls on a regular working day. New employees do not receive holiday benefits until they complete the orientation and training period.
To be eligible for holiday pay the staff member must be at work, or on an excused absence, the day immediately before the holiday and the day immediately after unless approved, in writing, by management.
Holidays that occur during a leave of absence are unpaid.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, the office may close the day before or the day after the holiday and take this as a paid holiday day.
When a designated holiday occurs during an eligible staff member’s scheduled paid vacation period, the individual will receive an extra day off (the date to be approved and paid at the regular rate for the day).
Staff members who terminate employment will receive compensation for any past earned, but unused holidays such as one that occurs during a scheduled vacation period that hasn’t yet been used.
OUR PAID HOLIDAYS:
New Years Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day (July 4)
Thanksgiving
Christmas