Winter Recess

To: All Faculty, Other Academic Appointees, Postdoctoral Researchers, and Staff
From: Paul Alivisatos, President, and Ka Yee C. Lee, Provost
Subject: Winter Recess
Date: October 22, 2021

We are pleased to announce that, in appreciation of University of Chicago staff members’ exceptional commitment and contributions, we are again offering staff employees “Winter Recess” this year – and also making this paid time off between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day an annual benefit.

Winter Recess – held this year December 27 to December 30 (with December 31 remaining a scheduled holiday this year) – is recognition of staff members’ dedication and support of the University’s academic and research excellence. (We are including academics and postdoctoral researchers on this message so they are aware of this change for staff members’ schedules.)

We plan to close all non-essential functions during this period. Employees who support essential functions related directly to the health, safety, and welfare of the University as well as certain other critical functions may be required to work during Winter Recess; therefore, we are offering these essential employees additional personal days for each day worked during the Winter Recess to be used between January 2, 2022, and June 30, 2022.

More details about Winter Recess are in these FAQs. HR representatives will also provide more details to employees and supervisors.

In addition, as we announced during the October 20 University-wide webinar, beginning in 2022, the University will commemorate Juneteenth as an official University holiday, including as a paid holiday for benefits-eligible staff members. We will share more information this winter with the broader University community about the designation of Juneteenth – also a federal holiday and commemorated on June 20 next year – as a University holiday.

Thank you again to all our staff members for your contributions to the University and our campus community day in and day out. We hope you enjoy your well-deserved additional time off this winter.