Employee Handbook

Local governments, excluding elected officials, are covered by unemployment insurance. City employees who are terminated due to a reduction in force or released from City service may apply for benefits through the Employment Security division where a determination of eligibility will be made.

UNIFORMS

The City may provide uniforms for police, fire, parks and recreation, inspectors, and public works personnel. Uniforms and laundry service may also be provided to other classes of employees where uniformity of appearance is desirable. Upon separation from City employment, all uniforms must be returned to the City prior to the employee's final day of work. The employee shall be responsible for reimbursing the City of Athens for any lost or damaged uniforms if the cause is for negligence.

HOLIDAYS, VACATION, SICK, AND LEAVES OF ABSENCE

HOLIDAYS

The following days, and other days as may be adopted by City Council, are holidays with full pay for employees of the City:

Holiday	Holiday
New Year's Day	Veterans Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Thanksgiving Day
Good Friday	Day after Thanksgiving
Memorial Day	Christmas Eve
Independence Day	Christmas Day
Labor Day	Floating Holiday (see below)

When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday shall be observed. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be observed. However, any conflict in the date of the holiday shall be decided by the City Manager.

FLOATING HOLIDAY

All-full-time, regular employees receive one floating holiday per year in addition to the regular paid holidays. The floating holiday must be used for one eight-hour time period and may be used in conjunction with another holiday. The floating holiday cannot be used in any increment less than eight (8) hours.

All requests for use of the floating holiday MUST be scheduled and approved at least two weeks in advance. Floating holidays may not be used as a substitute for using sick time if an employee calls in an absence on or before a scheduled workday.

Floating holidays are available at the beginning of each fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) for all current employees. A new employee hired before the end of the first half of the fiscal year will receive a floating holiday upon hire; a new employee hired during the second half of the fiscal year will receive ½ (four hours).

Floating holidays will not be carried over to the next fiscal year and cannot be cashed out if not taken. Floating holidays will not be paid upon termination of employment.