Winter Break FAQs

Campus will be closed Dec. 24, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027.  December 24, 25, and January 1 will be paid holidays for eligible employees. 

Note, December 24 was added by the Governor as a paid holiday for 2026 only.

The designated paid leave period for eligible employees is Dec. 28-31, 2026.

An alternate time period of Dec. 14-23 has been identified for units that perform essential functions (e.g., facilities operations, animal care, etc.) and are unable to have all staff out at once. This alternative period should allow the flexibility to split staff between the two weeks if necessary. These units may allow a small number of employees to use up to 4 days during the alternate time period. It is strongly encouraged to have the days of paid leave be consecutive.

Department, school leaders and supervisors should work together to ensure all employees can take the winter paid leave either during the primary time period (Dec. 28-31) or the alternate time period (Dec.14-23). The maximum allotment is 4 consecutive days. 
If one of the designated periods is not feasible, the department or school leader should contact hrdept@ku.edu by Monday, Dec. 7, to request an exception for each employee.
 

Some employees are not eligible:

•          Employees on unpaid leave

•          Employees on furlough

•          Temporary hourly students and staff

•          Affiliated corporation employees (not paid by KU)

No. Allowing employees to choose compensatory time instead of time off would defeat the intent to have all employees take leave at the end of the year and increase the liability cost for compensatory time.

Yes, with supervisory approval. In addition to the extra paid leave, we encourage employees to take vacation or other personal paid leave to refresh and re-energize.

For the December 6 - December 19 pay period: 

• Time/leave should be entered in HR/Pay by Saturday, Dec. 19 
• Supervisor approvals due by noon on Monday, Dec. 21, 2026

For the December 20 - January 2 pay period:  

• Time/leave should be entered in HR/Pay by Saturday, Jan. 2
• Supervisor approvals due by 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, 2027

If an employee’s time and absences are not entered and/or the supervisor does not approve by the corresponding deadlines above, the employee may have a minimum two-week delay in pay.  KUEA will also have reduced hours, and it will not be possible for the Payroll Office to make a request for late pay.  It will be especially important for time and absences to be submitted at the end of each work week and approved by the deadlines. 

Yes, these employees would be eligible. 

We encourage units to allow their students to have this time off however, if hourly students need to work, they should first get supervisor approval and then report hours as normal. 

No, employees need to add this code to their timesheet in order to be paid. 

Note, for clock time reporters, the supervisor will need to add the code to clock timesheets.

The employee needs to remove the WTRBK reporting code from their timesheet and enter the correct code. Once this is done, their supervisor will have negative hours showing up in their Approvals which just indicates they approve of the change.