Christmas closedown
This year the Christmas closedown period will commence on Thursday, 19 December 2019.
Christmas closedown dates 2019/2020
| Date | Day | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 19/12/2019 | Thursday | Christmas closedown (access own leave) |
| 20/12/2019 | Friday | Christmas closedown (access own leave) |
| 23/12/2019 | Monday | Christmas closedown (access own leave) |
| 24/12/2019 | Tuesday | Christmas closedown (access own leave) |
| 25/12/2019 | Wednesday | Christmas Day - Public holiday |
| 26/12/2019 | Thursday | Boxing Day - Public holiday |
| 27/12/2019 | Friday | University Concession Day |
| 30/12/2019 | Monday | University Concession Day |
| 31/12/2019 | Tuesday | University Concession Day |
| 01/01/2020 | Wednesday | New Year's Day - Public holiday |
| 02/01/2020 | Thursday | Christmas closedown (access own leave) |
| 03/01/2020 | Friday | Christmas closedown (access own leave) |
| 06/01/2020 | Monday | University re-opens |
- All Academic, Teaching and Professional staff need to submit a leave request for the total period of leave applicable to the time they wish to have off, incorporating the six day ‘Christmas Closedown’ period
- The six days listed as ‘Christmas Closedown’ need to be covered by a type of leave (eg. annual leave, long service leave, flex leave) and must be booked through HRonline (https://hronline.newcastle.edu.au)
- To book leave for the closedown period, staff should make a single leave booking with a start date of 19 December 2019 and an end date of 5 January 2020 noting that the system will manage public holidays and concession days
- This leave must be booked and approved by supervisors prior to 15 November 2019
Staff who do not have sufficient leave balances for the closedown period should speak to their supervisor about leave options.
Alternatively, these staff should be given priority for designated skeleton staffing during the Christmas closedown period, including in other areas that are operating during the closedown period where such a need exists.
Academic staff leave
Academic staff are also reminded that if they are not able to use all of their annual leave provision for the 2019 year before 23 January 2020 then they must submit an approval for a credit of the unused portion no later than 31 January 2020. The application form is available here.
The University does not wish to adversely impact those staff with low leave balances or prevent important research and essential operational work from being completed. Your Pro Vice-Chancellor or Head of Division has flexibility to approve exemptions from taking leave over the closedown period.
Should you believe you need to work during part or all of the closedown period, please discuss exemptions with your Supervisor in the first instance. Please note that different approval arrangements may be in place dependent on the Faculty/Division. All exemptions must be forwarded to your HR Client Services Advisor by the PVC/Director office following approval, no later than 15 November 2019.