3.3.8 - Paid Time Off (PTO) Benefit

Last updated on February 7, 2024

POLICY:  Spoon River College provides eligible employees paid time off (PTO) leave that can be used for vacation leave, sick leave, or other paid time off leave.

SCOPE:

This policy applies to all eligible employees including the following:

NOTE: Days are prorated based upon full-time equivalency (FTE) as defined in item 9 below.

DETAILS:

  1. The paid time off (PTO) year is concurrent with the College’s fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).
  2. PTO may not be taken until it is earned.
  3. Accrued but unused PTO may be carried over from one fiscal year to the next. However, an employee may not carry over more than eighty (80) hours of unused PTO into the following fiscal year.
  4. PTO pay must be appropriately reflected on the employee’s electronic timecard.
  5. PTO must be pre-approved by the immediate supervisor prior to use.When the need for leave is foreseeable, employees must provide seven (7) calendar days’ notice to their immediate supervisor. When the need for leave is not foreseeable, employees must provide notice to their immedicate supervisor as soon as practicable. Employees are encouraged to make requests for leave pursuant to the College’s regular time and attendance procedures.
  6. PTO pay is not considered as time worked for the purpose of overtime calculations.
  7. PTO pay is computed at an individual employee’s base rate of pay.
  8. PTO may be used for any reason at the discretion of the employee.
  9. PTO accrues on a per-pay basis and is prorated based upon the full-time equivalency of the position (as defined in the employee’s personnel file). For example, an eligible classified employee working 20 hours per week, with 4 years of service, accrues time off based upon the following formula:28 (hours per week) divided by 5 (days per week) x 8 days (time off benefit) = 44.8 hours per year.
  10. Upon termination of employment, an employee is paid the unused number of accrued PTO days up to fifty-six (56) hours.
  11. Employees on an approved unpaid leave of absence may not accrue PTO during the extent of the leave.
  12. The College may deny the use of leave in limited circumstances to meet the College’s core operational needs for the requested time period. In such circumstances, the College will advise the employee in writing for the basis of denial.