_private/qwestly-private-docs/HR/vacation-policy.md

Table of Contents

QWESTLY VACATION POLICY

Effective Date: September 8, 2025
Version: 1.0

Overview

Qwestly believes in the importance of work-life balance and encourages employees to take time off to rest, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. This policy outlines our vacation and personal time off benefits.

Vacation Accrual

Full-Time Employees

  • 0-2 years of service: 15 days (120 hours) per year
  • 3-4 years of service: 20 days (160 hours) per year
  • 5+ years of service: 25 days (200 hours) per year

Part-Time Employees

Part-time employees accrue vacation time on a pro-rated basis based on their scheduled hours.

Accrual Details

  • Vacation time accrues monthly on the last day of each month
  • New employees begin accruing vacation immediately upon hire
  • No vacation time is earned during unpaid leave periods
  • Maximum accrual cap: 1.5x annual allocation (e.g., if you earn 15 days/year, max accrual is 22.5 days)

Using Vacation Time

Scheduling

  • Vacation requests should be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance for requests of 5+ days
  • Requests of less than 5 days should be submitted at least 1 week in advance
  • Last-minute requests (less than 48 hours) require manager approval
  • Vacation must be approved by your direct manager

Minimum Usage

  • Vacation may be taken in increments of 4 hours (half-day) or more
  • Employees are encouraged to take at least 10 days of vacation per year

Peak Periods

  • During busy periods or product launches, vacation requests may be limited
  • No more than 25% of a team may be on vacation simultaneously without special approval

Vacation Payout

Upon Termination

Vacation payout varies by state based on legal requirements:

  • California Employees: Accrued but unused vacation time will be paid out at your current rate of pay (required by state law)

Cash-Out While Employed

  • Vacation time cannot be cashed out while actively employed in any state

Personal Days

In addition to vacation time, all full-time employees receive:

  • 3 personal days per calendar year (24 hours)
  • Personal days do not accrue and must be used by December 31st
  • Personal days are intended for personal business, appointments, or short-term needs

Holidays

Qwestly observes the following paid holidays:

  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Presidents Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Day after Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Eve
  • Christmas Day
  • New Year's Eve

If a holiday falls on a weekend, it will be observed on the adjacent weekday.

Sick Leave

Sick leave is covered under our separate Sick Leave Policy and is in addition to vacation time.

Administration

  • Vacation requests are tracked through our HRIS system
  • Managers will review and approve/deny requests within 3 business days
  • Employees can view their accrued vacation balance at any time through the employee portal

Policy Updates

This policy may be updated from time to time. Employees will be notified of any material changes.

Questions? Contact HR at [hr@qwestly.com]