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Instructions for Logging Hours the During Holiday Closedown

Faculty and staff should submit floating holiday and vacation time by Dec. 16.

The Maverick Monument statue with a wreath and bell around its neck.

Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 24, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) campus will enter the annual Holiday Closedown period. Normal campus operations will resume on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.

Overview

The university will be closed for multiple days during the holiday break. Employees should work with their leadership/supervisors to determine their individual leave plans during the shutdown period. Employees will need to submit the appropriate benefit time for any days that are not designated as university, state, or federal holidays. Such appropriate benefits time includes options such as:

  • Requesting approval from their immediate supervisor to use paid leave (e.g., floating holidays and/or vacation leave);

  • Requesting from their immediate supervisor to use unpaid leave; OR,

  • If work is available and the supervisor and departmental/unit leadership approves, arranging to work during the shutdown period.

Please submit your floating holiday and vacation time by Tuesday, Dec. 16.



Declared Leave on Dec. 24

President Gold has declared Wednesday, Dec. 24, as a paid “Declared Leave” day for all eligible employees. This means no additional vacation day is required to cover that date.

Declared leave for all eligible employees will need to be entered through Firefly or your timekeeping methods; all individual leave submission is required for Dec. 24 as Declared Leave.

Employees who are required to work on Dec. 24 due to operational needs (such as Public Safety, Facilities Management, or other essential services) should record their time worked as usual in Firefly. Supervisors may arrange for an alternate day off at a later date in accordance with campus policy for working during declared leave or holidays.



Closedown Period Schedule

Wednesday, Dec. 24
Declared Leave by President Gold

Thursday, Dec. 25
Holiday: Christmas Day

Friday, Dec. 26
Floating Holiday in lieu of Presidents’ Day

Monday, Dec. 29
Floating Holiday in lieu of Arbor Day

Tuesday, Dec. 30
Floating Holiday in lieu of Juneteenth

Wednesday, Dec. 31
Floating Holiday in lieu of Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus Day

Thursday, Jan. 1
Holiday: New Year’s Day

Friday, Jan. 2
Floating Holiday in lieu of Veterans Day

Monday, Jan. 5
Employees Return to Work



Salaried Employees (Monthly Paid)

Employees paid monthly should use the Firefly Leave Request calendar link to submit benefit time payable during the closedown period. Please work with your supervisors to submit any Floating Holiday hours or earned vacation hours for those relevant days.

Do not submit benefit leave time for Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) or Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day), as these are paid holidays and built into your profile. For Dec. 24, you will need to submit Declared Leave for that day. For all other closedown days, please submit floating holidays or vacation leave as appropriate.

Please ensure all time is submitted and approved by Tuesday, Dec. 16 to ensure timely processing and direct deposit on Wednesday, Dec. 31.



Bi-Weekly Employees

Bi-weekly employees should continue to submit time worked as normal, following supervisor guidance.

Please be sure to submit hours worked from Friday, Nov. 28, through Thursday, Dec. 11, by Monday, Dec. 15. Check your Firefly timesheet to ensure your supervisor has approved it no later than Wednesday, Dec. 17 to receive your direct deposit on Wednesday, Dec. 24, during the closedown period.

All time for leave eligible employees during Dec. 12 – Dec. 25, including DECLARED LEAVE for Dec. 24 and HOLIDAY for Dec. 25, needs to be submitted and approved by Tuesday, Dec. 23. If you are working during the Holiday Closedown, you have until Monday, Dec. 29 to enter and have this time approved.

Please be advised that during the Holiday Closedown, there will not be staff available to process any emergency checks until Jan. 5. Verify with all your employees, staff, and student workers, that all time has been entered and approved by the cutoff dates below to ensure correct processing of direct deposits.

Nov. 28 – Dec. 11: Cutoff Dec. 17

Dec. 12 – Dec. 25: Cutoff Dec. 29, suggested Dec. 23.



Minimum Wage Update (Effective Jan. 1, 2026)

In compliance with Nebraska Initiative Measure 433, minimum wage for employees will increase from $13.50 to $15.00 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Human Resources will automatically update pay rates for employees below $15.00/hour; no individual personnel action forms (PAFs) are required for this change.

Departments needing to make additional pay adjustments unrelated to the new minimum wage should continue to submit PAFs.

As an on-campus employer, it is important for you to communicate to your employees about this change. We recommend that you notify your employees and communicate some important dates regarding when they will see the change reflected in their pay, as referenced below.

Pay Period: Dec. 12 – 25
Pay Date: Jan. 8, 2026
Details: Reflects rate prior to increase

Pay Period: Dec. 26 – Jan. 8
Pay Date: Jan. 22, 2026
Details: Reflects new $15.00/hour rate for hours worked Jan. 1– Jan. 8



Comprehensive Closedown Calendar

Thursday, Dec. 11

End of Pay Period.

Friday, Dec. 12

Load all batch time entries.

Monday, Dec. 15

  • Ensure all hours in period Nov. 28 – Dec. 11 are submitted for approval.
  • BW direct deposit date 12/24/2025.

Tuesday, Dec. 16

  • Supervisors must approve all hours.
  • All MO & BW Leave for Break Entered/Approved.
  • Employees: ensure all your hours are approved; remind your supervisor as needed.

Wednesday, Dec. 17

Review that all Leave Hours were entered/approved for the Holiday Break (MO & BW).

Thursday, Dec. 18

  • BW payroll closes at noon for Nov. 28 – Dec. 11.
  • Supervisors must approve all hours by noon.
  • Take note: next cutoff for BW is Dec. 31 during the break; verify with all approvers.

Monday, Dec. 22

  • MO payroll closes 10 A.M.
  • Take note: next cutoff for BW is Dec. 31 during the break; verify with all approvers.

Tuesday, Dec. 23

  • Supervisors must approve all hours by 5 P.M. (Dec. 12 – Dec. 25).
  • Cutoff Dec. 31 for BW direct deposit date 01/08/2026.

Wednesday, Dec. 24

  • Closedown – Day 1
  • Declared Leave (by President Gold)

Thursday, Dec. 25

  • Closedown – Day 2
  • Holiday: Christmas Day

Friday, Dec. 26

  • Closedown – Day 3
  • Floating Holiday

Monday, Dec. 29

  • Closedown – Day 4
  • Floating Holiday

Tuesday, Dec. 30

  • Closedown – Day 5
  • Floating Holiday

Wednesday, Dec. 31

  • Closedown – Day 6
  • Floating Holiday

Thursday, Jan. 1

  • Closedown – Day 7
  • Holiday: New Year’s Day

Friday, Jan. 2

  • Closedown – Day 8
  • Floating Holiday

Monday, Jan. 5
Employees return to work

Thursday, Jan. 8
BW PayDay



Questions

For any questions about time entry, declared leave, or payroll processing, please contact UNO Payroll at unopayroll@unomaha.edu.