UPI Employee Handbook
Hours of Work and Attendance
Employees are expected to work their shifts as assigned to them by their immediate Supervisor or Manager. Any employee absent from work, whether intermittent, recurrent or extended, affects UPI’s operations and results in a costly business expense. Therefore, UPI maintains structured absenteeism and punctuality practices. If you are unable to report to work, you will be required to contact your Supervisor or Manager. Your department will further establish attendance guidelines and expectations with you.
Meal Periods – All employees who work full-time are required to take at least a half-hour lunch break. We expect you to take this time off from work to relax and eat lunch. Only in an emergency and with prior approval from your manager can you work through lunch. Meal periods of at least a half an hour or more during the scheduled workday are not considered as work-time and the employee is not compensated for this time off. Meal periods are optional only when a work period of not more than five (5) hours will complete the day’s work. Please speak with your Supervisor or Manager to obtain scheduling and approval of your meal period.
Breaks – Breaks are considered as part of an employee’s working time. Non-exempt employees working a full eight-hour shift receive two (2), ten (10) minute breaks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Employees are paid for these break periods. Please speak with your Supervisor or Manager to obtain scheduling and approval of your break periods.
Generally, UPI does not grant unpaid time-off for additional personal leave time needs. Employees should manage their PAL and EI accounts conservatively and maintain sufficient balances for future time-off needs.
Primarily, PAL time should be scheduled and approved in advance with your Supervisor or Manager. Unscheduled time off may be disruptive to the business and should be limited. Unscheduled time-off will be monitored closely. Excessive unscheduled time off will not be tolerated.