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  10. SECTION 2: Rest Days, Holidays & Leaves

SECTION 2: Rest Days, Holidays & Leaves

Rest Day

Full-time employees get at least one rest day a week. Usually on Monday unless otherwise agreed.

General Holidays

All employees are entitled to Hong Kong general holidays. If a holiday falls on your day off, you’ll get the next working day off.

If you are required by SP to work on a rest day or holiday, you’ll get a day off within 60 days.

Annual Leave

All employees are granted annual leave on January 1st each year, based on their tenure:

Leave Usage

  • Annual leave can only be taken with the prior written approval of your Supervisor.
  • Requests should be made at least 30 days in advance with this form.
  • Requests are reviewed by your Supervisor and HR for staffing needs and fairness.
  • Annual leave must be used within the calendar year (Jan 1 – Dec 31).
  • Up to 5 days can be carried over to the next year but must be used by June 30.
  • In special cases, you can request next year’s leave with Senior Pastor approval.

Restricted Days

Leave should not be taken during these events unless prior written approval has been received by the Senior Pastor:

  • NYE Service (Dec 31)
  • Annual Fast (Jan 2 – 23)
  • Anniversary Conference (March)
  • Passion Week (Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday)
  • Churchwide Retreat
  • Men’s and Women’s Retreats
  • Staff Retreat

Early Dismissal

Employees are dismissed at 2 PM on these days to encourage time with their families.

  • Day before CNY
  • Mid Autumn
  • Winter Solstice
  • Christmas Eve

Sick Leave

Employees earn paid Sick Leave at the rate of 2 days per month for the first year and 4 days per month after that, up to a maximum of 120 days.

Use of Sick Leave

  1. Inform your Supervisor and HR before your usual start time.
  2. Keep your Supervisor updated on your return date.
  3. A doctor’s note is required for sick leave longer than 2 days.
  4. Sick Leave can be taken in increments of at least half a day.
  5. If you run out of Sick Leaves, extra time off will be deducted from your Annual Leave.

Taking sick leave dishonestly may result in disciplinary action or termination.

Marriage Leave

This leave must be used within 6 months of the wedding.

Maternity Leave

To qualify for maternity pay, the employee must have worked for at least 40 weeks before the leave starts. Female employees are entitled to:

  1. 14 continuous weeks (Up to 4 extra weeks for health issues related to pregnancy)
  2. Maternity leave starts on the baby’s birth date (can begin 2-4 weeks prior to birth).
  3. During the first year of the newborn’s life, the employee is exempt from EMP.

Paternity Leave

Employees are exempt from EMP for the first 3 months after the baby’s birth.

Pastoral Sabbatical Leave

  • Pastoral staff can apply for a sabbatical leave after 6 years of service.
  • Sabbaticals must be requested 3 months in advance and are not guaranteed.
  • Only one pastor can take a sabbatical at a time.
  • Unused sabbatical leave is lost, and pastors can reapply after 6 years.
  • With approval, employees can choose to divide their sabbatical over six years instead of taking it all at once.

The pastor and their spouse (if employed by the church) will also get paid leave. The church may cover other sabbatical expenses, like tuition or travel, with Board approval on a case by case basis..

Pastoral Study Leave

Pastors are encouraged to take one week off annually for study, separate from vacation time, with prior approval from the Senior Pastor.

Missions Leave

  • Staff can request missions leave if they are leading an SP mission trip.
  • Available once per year.
  • Trip expenses are covered by the missions budget.
  • Requires approval from the Senior Pastor.

Ministry Leave

Staff can apply for ministry leave to speak, write, or attend conferences. This leave requires approval from the Senior Pastor and can be combined with other leave.

General Leave of Absences

Employees can request leave for education or family emergencies with Senior Pastor approval. Salary and benefits continue for up to 4 weeks. After that, the Executive Pastor will discuss next steps.

Compassionate Leave

After probation, employees can take up to 10 working days of paid compassionate leave after the death of an immediate family member, with Executive Pastor approval.

Unpaid Leave of Absence

Unpaid leave for up to 8 weeks requires Senior Pastor approval. After that, there’s no job guarantee, and employees must pay their own medical premiums.