Chapter 1.34
EMPLOYEES—HOLIDAYS

Sections:

1.34.010    Designated—Floating holidays.

1.34.020    Unpaid holidays for reason of faith or conscience.

1.34.010 Designated—Floating holidays.

As of December 26, 1978, the county holidays specified in RCW 1.16.050, as now or hereinafter amended, shall be the paid holidays prescribed for Chelan County employees, with the provision that so-called “floating holiday” shall be allowed only to those employees who have completed the six months’ probationary period. The provisions of this section shall not prevent the board from establishing additional holidays for good cause. (Res. 78-130, 12/26/78).

1.34.020 Unpaid holidays for reason of faith or conscience.

(1) Under Washington law all employees of Chelan 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 holiday.”

(2) Note that a partial day off will count as a full day toward your yearly allotment of two days. Note also that the law provides for unpaid leave, and there is no provision for substituting paid time off.

(3) If you seek to take a day off or partial day off under this law, you must submit a written request to your department head or elected official at least two weeks in advance. Untimely requests will only be considered if you can demonstrate that timely notice was not possible under the circumstances.

(4) Your request should include the following information:

(A) Your name;

(B) The day(s) or partial day(s) that you are requesting off;

(C) A sufficient description of the reason for the leave so that the department head or elected official can determine if it is properly granted;

(D) If the request is untimely, the reason why it was not possible to submit the request in a timely manner.

(5) You will normally receive a response within five working days of receipt of your request. The request may be denied if:

(A) It was not submitted in a timely fashion; or

(B) The reason for the requested leave is not appropriate under the law; or

(C) You have already exhausted your allotment of days off under the law; or

(D) You are 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.

(6) Note if an employee is seeking payment for a holiday it does not fall under this policy. (Res. 2014-52 (Att. A), 6/9/14).