Employees accrue and have a right to use annual leave in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and this agreement. The determination as to the time and amount of leave granted at any specific time is made by the supervisor, considering employees desires, staffing, workload, and training requirements as determining factors. The minimum charge for annual leave isfifteen (15) minutes with additional charges in multiples thereof.

Requests for annual leave will be submitted in duplicate on an application for leave SF-71, or electronically, where appropriate, to the Leave Approving Official who will advise the employee of its approval or disapproval.

Supervisors will expeditiously inform employees of their approval/disapproval of advance requests for annual leave. The Employer will provide each employee the opportunity to use all earned annual leave in order to avoid forfeiture. All use or lose leave will be scheduled prior to the end of pay period twenty-four (24) each year. The supervisor will not cancel or modify previously approved leave except for bonafide management reasons. The reason(s) will be explained to the employee. Employees may request annual leave for any duration, for any time and in any pattern they desire.

The Agency agrees to schedule annual leave for eligible employees for vacation purposes, normally of one (1) or two (2) weeks duration after March 30 of each year on requests received prior to March 30. Schedules for use of such annual leave will be constructed on the basis of employee preference and workload, and skill needs of the bargaining unit. Conflicts in employee preference will be resolved on the basis of length of service in the bargaining unit. An employee will not be permitted to change their selection if it disrupts the selection of another employee unless the latter is agreeable thereto and approved by their Supervisor. These leave requests will be reviewed and a decision communicated to employees by April 15.

Annual leave may be granted upon request by an employee if reasonable notice (normally twenty- four [24] hours) is given, and when the workload permits. Requests for annual leave will be submitted in duplicate on an Application for Leave (SF-71) or electronically, to the leave approving official who will advise the employee of its approval or disapproval (normally twenty- four [24] hours).

Leave requests for emergency reasons will be considered on the circumstances of the individual request. An emergency for annual leave purposes is defined as:

A. A condition which came to the employee's attention after he/she has left work;

B. A situation of such a serious nature as to justify the employee's decision not to report; or

C. A situation arising during duty hours that necessitates the employee's immediate absence from duty.

Normally annual leave for emergency reasons will be approved only for the amount of time necessary to satisfy the emergency. When requesting emergency annual leave the employee must indicate the amount of leave needed. If the emergency extends beyond the period for which leave was originally requested, the employee must again notify the Employer and request additional leave.

Requests for Emergency Annual Leave submitted as provided herein shall not be considered officially approved until acted upon by the leave approving official. Requests which are not approved will be charged as AWOL.

Employees other than those assigned to shift work, desiring Emergency Annual Leave are normally required to call their immediate supervisor within the first hour of the scheduled tour of duty unless there are extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the employee. However, the employee is required to call as soon as possible. If the immediate supervisor is not available, the employee shall leave a phone number at which they can be reached during their scheduled tour of duty. The request for leave will not be approved until the immediate supervisor discusses the situation with the employee and takes official action. Denials of requests for emergency annual leave will be for bonafide management reasons.

With the exception of the NDCC unit, shift workers requiring Emergency Annual Leave must normally notify their duty station no later than two (2) hours before the beginning of the scheduled shift to permit arrangements for replacement personnel, including but not limited to holding employees to work over their regular tour. In addition, normally the employees are required to call their immediate supervisor/shift head during the first hour of the scheduled tour of duty unless there are extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the employee. However, the employee is required to call as soon as possible. If the immediate supervisor/shift head is not available, the employee shall leave a phone number at which they can be reached during their scheduled tour of duty. The request for leave will not be approved until the leave approving official discusses the situation with the employee and takes official action. Denials of requests for emergency annual leave will be for bonafide management reasons.

NDCC Unit rule:

Early shift employees (shifts that start before 8 a.m.) are to call within the first hour of their scheduled tour of duty.

Late shift employees (all shifts starting after 8 a.m.) are to call one hour prior to the time that they are scheduled to work.

Employees must call in personally to make their request for Emergency Annual Leave. If the employee is unable to call, the supervisor will accept calls from an alternate provided the person identifies himself and they can provide the information required. However, the employee must call as soon as possible and may be required to furnish documentation for the period in which he/she was unable to call in personally.

The number of requests for Emergency Annual Leave will be held to a minimum because of the effect on essential operations and inconvenience to other employees who must be required to serve as substitutes.

Employees faced with the possibility of loss of leave shall notify the Employer of their leave requests for the balance of the leave year before the end of pay period 24. Employees may donate annual leave under the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program. If leave is forfeited due to no fault of the employee, it will be restored in accordance with appropriate regulations.

Requests for advanced annual leave may be made by employees to their supervisor and will be considered in a fair and objective manner in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

Union officials may request annual leave to conduct internal Union business. Approval is subject to work site requirements.