Exempt employee vacation scheduling

[M18ike]

What is the name of your state? Massachusetts

My employer schedules 5 day "shutdowns" for inventory and maintainence during July and December. Hourly employees are told they have to use there accrued vacation during those "shutdown" times. If they have more time accrued they are eligible to schedule the excess vacation at the discretion of management. In my exempt status I have 80 hours of vacation time right now. Can my employer make me take my vacation time during those "shutdown" periods also? This would leave me with no options!

 

[cbg]

Yes. Your employer is not required to provide you with any paid vacation at all. It is up to them to determine how and when it is to be used.

The answer is the same, by the way, regardless of whether you are exempt or non-exempt. No Federal law and no law in Massachusetts (or any other state with limited exceptions in California) dictates to the employer how they utilize vacation benefits for any employee.