HomeMy WebLinkAbout037 14(L', N\ , I-a` -)
STATE OF WASHINGTON
County of Jefferson
In the Matter of Allowing Employees to Receive }
up to Two (2) Unpaid Holidays Per Calendar Year }
for a Reason of Faith or Conscience; or an Organized }
Activity Conducted Under the Auspices of a Religious } RESOLUTION NO. 373714
Denomination, Church, or Religious Organization }
WHEREAS, in accordance with state law that went into effect on June 12, 2014, Jefferson
County shall establish a process to allow employees to receive up to two (2) unpaid holidays per
calendar year for a reason of faith or conscience; or an organized activity conducted under the
auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization; and
WHEREAS, Employees may request time off under this law by submitting a written request
to their Department Director, with a copy to the Human Resource Manager, at least two weeks in
advance of the requested time off, unless the employee can demonstrate that timely notice was not
possible under the circumstances. The written request should include the employee's name, the
date of the days or partial days off requested, and a sufficient description of the reason for the time
off so that the County can determine whether the request is appropriate under the law. The County
may seek more information regarding the request if the information provided is insufficient to make
a determination; and
WHEREAS, the County may deny the request if it is not submitted in a timely fashion, the
reason for the requested leave is not appropriate under the law, the employee has already exhausted
his/her allotment of days off under the law, the employee is in a public safety position, such as
police, fire, or dispatch, and granting the leave would result in the shift falling below necessary
staffing levels, or granting the request would cause an undue hardship;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of County Commissioners, Jefferson
County, Washington, that the attached process for allowing employees to receive up to two (2)
unpaid holidays per calendar year for a reason of the individual's faith or conscience; or for a reason
of an organized activity conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or
religious organization, is hereby adopted for use by all Jefferson County Departments.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this policy is hereby incorporated as part of the
Jefferson CQ9 AV Personnel Manual.
11 1
r --
a
Clerk of the Board
1}VD ADOPTED this aC day of July, 2014.
;n•
aa,
JEFFERSON COUNTY
&14
HOLIDAYS OF FAITH AND CONSCIENCE ACT POLICY
Under Washington law all employees of Jefferson County are entitled to up to two unpaid
holidays per calendar year for a reason of faith or conscience; or an organized activity conducted
under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization.
Note that a partial day off will count as a full day toward an employee's yearly allotment of two
days. Note also that the law provides for unpaid leave, and there is no provision for substituting
paid time off. If an employee wishes to be compensated for the time off, please follow the
policies for using accrued vacation leave or compensatory time or other paid time off.
If an employee seeks to take a day off or partial day off under this law, the employee must
submit a written request to their Department Director, with a copy to the Human Resources
Manager, at least two weeks in advance. Untimely requests will only be considered if an
employee can demonstrate that timely notice was not possible under the circumstances.
An employee request must be filled out on the attached form and include the following
information:
• Employee name
• Current Date
The day(s) or partial day(s) that the employee is requesting off
• A sufficient description of the reason for the leave so that the Department Director can
determine if it is properly granted
• If the request is untimely, the reason why it was not possible to submit the request in a
timely manner
The request may be denied if:
• It was not submitted in a timely fashion, or
• The reason for the requested leave is not appropriate under the law, or
• The employee has already exhausted their allotment of days off under the law, or
• The employee is in a public safety position, such as police, fire, or dispatch, and granting
the leave would result in the shift falling below necessary staffing levels, or
• Granting the request would cause an undue hardship as defined by the Office of
Financial Management.
UNPAID HOLIDAY LEAVE REQUEST FORM
Employee Name:
Date of Request:
Requested Date(s) off*:
Reason for request:
If the request is untimely (less than two weeks in advance), please indicate
the reason why it was not possible to submit the request in a timely
manner:
*If employee is seeking only a partial day absence, please specify which hours the employee will
be away from work. NOTE: Partial day off will count as a full day toward your yearly allotment
of two days.
I hereby state that the depictions in this document are true and correct.
Employee Signature Date
Department Use Only
Approved: F7
Denied:
Reason for Denial:
Department Director Date
Consent Agenda
Commissioners Office
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Philip Morley, County Administrator
Erin Lundgren, Clerk of the Board
DATE: July 28, 2014
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION re: Allowing Employees to Receive up to Two (2) Unpaid Holidays
Per Calendar Year for a Reason of Faith or Conscience or an Organized Activity
Conducted Under the Auspices of a Religious Denomination, Church, or Religious
Organization
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Governor Inslee signed new legislation which went into effect on June 12, 2014 which allows local
government employees to receive up to two (2) unpaid holidays per calendar year for a reason of faith,
conscience or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or
religious organization.
ANALYSIS:
As a result of this new law, local government entities must adopt an ordinance or resolution establishing a
process for its implementation. Attached is a draft resolution establishing the process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
While this law allows employees to receive two holidays as unpaid, there is a cost associated with the loss of
staff time during an employee's absence.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve and sign the resolution.
REVIEWED BY:
Phr rip Morl( oun4LAdmimstrator Date