5.7 Special Holiday Closing

From time to time the Institute may close to observe some special occasion, such as a half day or full day before or after a recognized Institute holiday. Those days are treated as Special Holiday Closings. In addition, MIT observes a Winter Break at year end, with the exact days announced each year. During the Winter Break, days that are not observed as Holidays are treated as Special Holiday Closings.

In a Special Holiday Closing, all but essential operations are suspended. Employees on all shifts and on all payrolls are paid on the same basis, as outlined below.

A special holiday closing is not a recognized Institute Holiday, and Holiday pay practices do not apply. (For additional information, see Section 4.1, Holidays.)

5.7.1 Payment in Special Holiday Closing

Full-time and part-time employees not required to work are paid for the hours they were regularly scheduled to work during the closing.

Full-time and part-time employees scheduled and required to work during the closing are paid at their applicable rates, plus any shift differential, for the hours they work. In addition, they are paid at straight-time, plus any shift differential, for the hours of the closing. Employees who choose to work during a special holiday closing but are not required to do so receive only Special Holiday Closing Pay and do not receive any additional pay or time off.

5.7.2 Absence on Special Holiday Closing

Employees absent for any reason receive no time off or pay for a special holiday closing except as follows. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to report any exceptions on attendance records as required by the reporting policies of the Payroll Office.

1. Vacation: If a special holiday closing of not less than one-half day falls on an employee's regularly scheduled workday during their vacation, the employee receives pay for the closing without deduction from their vacation balance.
2. Sick Time: An employee absent on authorized paid Sick Time is paid for the hours of the special holiday closing and these hours are not charged against their Sick Time balance.
3. Partially Paid Leaves: Employees on a leave paid by Serious Illness Reduced Pay (SIRP) or at the State Formula Rate for their own illness or for a family leave are not eligible for special holiday closings. Section 4.3.3; Section 4.4.
4. Unpaid Leave: Employees on an authorized unpaid leave are paid for a Special Holiday Closing only if they would be paid for that date if it were a Holiday, and only if the Special Holiday Closing is a half day or more. (See Section 4.1, Holidays.)