Employment
Employment Handbook
Washington
Employment handbook vacation policy?
I recently accepted a new job and was given an employee handbook to read over. I read the policies regarding vacation time, but I am unclear about how exactly the policy works and what the process is for taking a vacation. I want to make sure I understand the policy correctly and that I am following the correct procedure for requesting vacation time.
Answers from 1 Lawyer
Answer
Employment
Washington
Merry K.
ContractsCounsel verified
July 26, 2023
Hello - I am a Washington State employment law attorney. It can often be difficult to understand a policy in an employee handbook. I would suggest two things: (1) Do not ask about the policy or how to interpret it until you have completed at least two months on the job - wait until your supervisor and coworkers get to know you; most likely, you are not eligible for vacation leave until you have been on the job for several months anyway. (2) After two months, ask your supervisor about the policy - not HR. Your supervisor is most likely the person who will have to approve your leave, and he or she will appreciate that you went to him or her instead of going to HR.
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Hello - I have been an attorney for nearly 38 years and specialize in employment law. It would be helpful to know what policies concern you, but be aware that federal and state law, and usually county and city as well, override any policies that are incorrect. Meanwhile, keep in mind that if you are an "at will" employee you have few, if any rights (other than certain ones protected by law); that sometimes employers don't keep up with updating their polices; and that HR is not your friend. If you feel your rights are not being respected, you may want to book a 30 or 60 minute consultation with a WA State Employment attorney. If you feel you have been or are being discriminated against because of a protected class status, you can also file discrimination complaints with the WA State Human Rights Commission and/or the EEOC. If you are not getting the wages you should be receiving, you can file a wage complaint with the state; you will be protected from retaliation for doing so. If you feel your working conditions are unsafe, you can file a complaint with the WA State equivalent of OSHA, and/or with OSHA (federal). Best wishes, Merry
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