Additional VPP days now available to staff in light of COVID-19
15 days now available: Submit approved VPP form to HR by June 11
May 29, 2020 UPDATE
Effective May 30, 2020, a second intake of VPP applications will be accepted to eligible full-time support and academic staff. All applications are subject to supervisory approval and will not be approved if you are ineligible or if operational needs cannot be met. The deadline for the second intake of VPP applications is June 11, 2020. Please send approved requests to hris [at] umanitoba [dot] ca.
NOTE: The combined total of days between VPP and VDOP cannot exceed 15 days for 2020 due to COVID-19) per fiscal year (for AESES employees, a maximum of 10 days are available for purchase).
March 18, 2020 update
In response to the current public health situation (COVID-19), UM has temporarily increased the total number of Vacation Purchase Plan (VPP) days available for purchase to 15 days. Eligibility requirements for this program still apply. Employees must discuss with their supervisors when considering the vacation purchase plan (VPP). If your area’s operational needs are covered, you may be eligible to benefit from the program.
Also see the COVID-19 website and Staff and Faculty FAQs there for additional options and interim measures.
Please note the following adjusted deadlines:
Employees: Submit the request for VPP form to your supervisor by March 27, 2020.
Supervisors: Submit approved VPP forms to Human Resources by April 1, 2020.
Extension of VPP: Employees are eligible to purchase up to 15 days of VPP for the 2020-21 vacation year. Please visit the VPP website for more information, and a revised application form.
Cancellation of VPP: Human Resources is allowing employees enrolled in VPP for 2020-21 to rescind their application if they no longer wish to purchase additional vacation. To rescind an already-approved application for VPP, the employee shall send an email request to hris[@]umanitoba.ca, cc-ing their direct supervisor, by end of day Thursday, April 2, 2020.
The University is committed to doing the best we can to support all employees during this unprecedented public health situation, and we ask that employees do their best to support university operations.
Managers/Department Heads/Deans should work with employees to support their health and well-being and to continue university operations to the greatest extent possible. In addition to working remotely, this can include reassigning duties or flexible work hours to accommodate family care needs.
Original story: Jan. 23, 2020
Would you like extra days for your summer holiday or additional days off to take care of elderly parents? Are you a new employee wishing for vacation time during your first year?
These are questions to discuss with your supervisor when considering the vacation purchase plan (VPP). If your area’s operational needs are covered, you may be eligible to benefit from the program.
The University will offer this popular program for the fifth year, says Darlene Smith, associate vice-president, human resources.
“The vacation purchase plan gives support staff the ability to create flexible work arrangements and promotes work-life balance, which is a priority defined in our university’s Strategic Plan .”
The vacation purchase plan provides eligible employees with an opportunity to purchase five to 10 days of vacation in addition to their current vacation allotment. While unpaid leaves already exist, they impact seniority and service accrual, vacation accrual, pension contributions and other benefits, whereas these consequences do not occur with VPP.
Last year the vacation purchase plan attracted a total of 444 employees.
The vacation purchase plan will run concurrently with the voluntary days off program. The VPP allows salary deductions to be distributed throughout the year, whereas the voluntary days off program deducts from earnings within the pay period that the leave is taken.
The two options provide maximum flexibility for employees; however, the combined total of days between the two programs cannot exceed 10 days per fiscal year.
Questions? Call the HR Help Desk at 204-474-9400 or contact your HR consultant.
To provide feedback, email hrfeedback [at] umanitoba [dot] ca