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Working at Cornell

Year-End Time-Off Reminder: Check Your Balances and Plan Ahead

cozy fireplace with book and mug of spiced cider foreground

As we approach calendar year-end, please review your vacation and floating holiday balances and work with your supervisor to schedule any time off before December 31, 2026, to avoid forfeiting available time.

Important: Time-off requests remain subject to supervisory approval and departmental operational needs. Employees are encouraged to submit requests as early as possible to allow sufficient time for review and planning.

Vacation

Vacation-eligible staff members may accrue vacation in excess of their maximum accumulation based on their credited years of service. Vacation balances that exceed the applicable maximum will not carry over beyond December 31.

Each year, as of December 31, vacation balances that exceed the applicable maximum are automatically reduced to the maximum permitted amount. Employees who have balances above the maximum accumulation should make plans to use those excess hours before year-end. 

See the Vacation Program (Maximum Accumulation) for more information. 

Floating Holidays

As of 2025, all eligible employees receive two floating paid holidays, in addition to the paid holidays listed on the Staff Holiday Calendar.

Floating holiday balances for the 2026 calendar year must be used by December 31, 2026. Unused floating holidays are forfeited and do not carry over into the following calendar year.

See the Holiday Time Program (Staff Floating Holidays) for more information. 

How to Check Your Accrual Balances

To view your accrual balances in Workday:

  1. Log in to Workday.
  2. Select the Personal tile.
  3. Open the Absence app.
  4. View your balances under Available Balance as of Today.

Questions?

Please contact your supervisor or your HR representative if you have questions about your balances or eligibility.