Winter Break
On this page:
- Overview
- Scheduled Winter Break Periods
- Eligibility for Pay
- Essential Operations
- Employees Working During Winter Break
- Employees on Approved Leave
- Affiliated Entities and Special Circumstances
- Time Reporting and Payroll
- Questions and Support
Overview
Employees of Wright State University provide outstanding support and service to our students, colleagues, and the broader community. To demonstrate gratitude for that work, Wright State University observes a Winter Break each year, providing employees with extended time to rest and recharge while maintaining essential university functions.
The Winter Break period begins with the observed Presidents Day Holiday (the floating holiday typically observed on the business day before the Christmas Holiday) and continues through the observed New Year’s Day Holiday.
In order to provide continuous periods of leave for most employees during certain calendar years, we will also grant an additional closure day under certain circumstances. For example, if the New Year’s Day Holiday falls on a Thursday (e.g., in 2025), the university will also remain closed on Friday. And, if the floating Presidents Day Holiday falls on a Tuesday (e.g., in 2035), the university will also close on the preceding Monday.
*Employees that are covered by a collective bargaining agreement should consult their respective agreement and/or relevant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to determine their eligibility and pay expectations for the Winter Break period.
Scheduled Winter Break Periods
2025
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/22/2025 University open |
12/23/2025 |
12/24/2025 |
12/25/2025 |
12/26/2025 |
|
12/29/2025 |
12/30/2025 |
12/31/2025 Winter Break (Closure) |
1/1/2026 |
1/2/2026 |
2026
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/21/2026 University open |
12/22/2026 |
12/23/2026 |
12/24/2026 |
12/25/2026 |
|
12/28/2026 |
12/29/2026 |
12/30/2026 Winter Break (Closure) |
12/31/2026 |
1/1/2026 |
Eligibility for Pay
- All employees* scheduled to work during Winter Break will receive Closure Pay (for hourly employees) or regular pay (for salaried employees) for their normally scheduled workdays.
- Employees not scheduled to work (such as weekends or regular days off) will not receive pay, as typical, for those days.
- Student employees are not eligible for pay during the Winter Break period unless they are required to work and have been specifically scheduled by their supervisor. In that case, they will receive regular pay for any hours worked. They are not eligible for Closure Pay.
- Employees that are covered by a collective bargaining agreement should consult their respective agreement and/or relevant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to determine their eligibility and pay expectations for the Winter Break period.
Essential Operations
Some departments must remain open to maintain essential university operations, including (but not limited to) Public Safety, Facilities Management, and Payroll.
The leader of each division or college will work in concert with Human Resources to determine which employees are required to work during Winter Break. Supervisors are expected to timely communicate expectations to employees and to schedule work equitably to maximize time off, where possible.
Employees Working During Winter Break
- Non-exempt (hourly) employees* who are required to work:
- Will receive both regular pay for hours worked and Closure Pay for their normal schedule.
- May choose to receive the additional time as compensatory time, if eligible.
- Exempt (salaried) employees* who are required to work:
- Will receive their regular pay only. However, they may also work with their supervisor to determine whether alternate time off is appropriate as well.
- To avoid issues with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), they may not bank or track specific additional hours worked during the closure.
- Employees who are not required to work during the Winter Break but choose to do so—whether remotely or in person—will receive regular pay only with no closure pay or additional time off.
Employees on Approved Leave
Employees on pre-approved leave (including FMLA, parental, or medical leave) will continue to use the appropriate leave type during Winter Break. Closure Pay will not substitute for approved leave.
However, for 2025 ONLY, employees who were previously approved to use vacation or unpaid leave during the 2025 Winter Break period may convert those days to Closure pay instead of using leave or being in an unpaid leave status. Employees that are covered by a collective bargaining agreement should consult their respective agreement and/or relevant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to determine their eligibility and pay expectations for the Winter Break period.
Affiliated Entities and Special Circumstances
Affiliated entities (such as the Dayton Regional STEM School) or grant-funded entities may be approved to operate under separate schedules. Any alternate plan must be reviewed and approved by Human Resources prior to implementation.
Time Reporting and Payroll
- Salaried (exempt) employees* do not need to take any action; pay will be processed automatically for the Winter Break period.
- Hourly (non-exempt) employees* must record Closure Pay on their applicable time sheets for each scheduled workday that falls within the Winter Break period.
- Supervisors are responsible for confirming accuracy and approving all time sheets before submission.
- Closure Pay will be processed using the same payroll codes and procedures as other university closures (e.g., inclement weather).
Questions and Support
For additional information or clarification, employees should:
- Review the Winter Break Policy (Policy #8440)
- Contact their HR Business Partner or Human Resources at human_resources@wright.edu.
