Lectra - DTO: Salaried Employees and FAQs

Gerber has a discretionary time off policy (DTO) in place of a traditional paid time off policy. Instead of accruing and utilizing an exact number of time-off hours, Gerber encourages you to take time off at the discretion of you and your manager. Time out of the office is vital to avoiding employee burnout and, as such, we hope that you take reasonable time off as you need.

Hourly employees are ineligible for DTO and should refer to PTO: Hourly Employees section above.

DTO generally can be taken whenever work schedules permit. Try to give your manager at least 30 days’ advance notice before you take extended DTO (more than a few days). Employees submit time off requests using this ADP workflow. DTO requests must be approved by your manager and listed as Out of Office on your and any relevant group calendars. Managers are encouraged to think through needs of the business, impact to the employee’s projects, and the employee’s incidence in taking time off in the past when approving requests. Any DTO block longer than ten consecutive workdays must be approved by your direct manager, your Senior Manager, and your HR Business Partner (HRBP). Depending on the context of the leave, it may be considered a leave of absence. (See Leaves of Absence).

DTO should be scheduled with your manager as far in advance as possible. However, we recognize that last minute time off may be required in the event of unforeseen circumstances (i.e. illness). In such cases, you must tell your manager prior to the beginning of when you are expected to begin work and add the time to ADP’s Time Tracking tool after the fact. Continuous, unexplained, unscheduled absences will result in disciplinary action, potentially including termination. Unreported absence of three consecutive workdays generally is automatic grounds for termination.

For serious illnesses/injuries (exceeding 3 days) we may also ask for a doctor’s release before returning to work to ensure your own safety and that of your coworkers. If you are hospitalized or ill for more than 7 calendar days for a non-work injury/illness, you may apply for State Disability Insurance (SDI) benefits (if applicable) and may qualify for Gerber's Short-Term Disability coverage. Please speak to your HRBP about this.

Gerber reserves the right to prohibit employees from using DTO during periods of increased business need.

FAQ's

Why are salaried and hourly employees on different time off policies?

The nature of work tends to be different between these employee populations and we seek to create policies that fit the way you work (and want to take time off from work).

How do I know how much time I’m allowed to take?

Simply, you should take the amount of time that you need. In general, whatever you had under the accrued policy is likely a guideline to use. We encourage you to have open conversation with your manager. As long as your work is not impacted, you are able to achieve the realistic goals set between yourself and your manager, and you’re acting fairly to those impacted by your time off, the time you want to take is the time you want to take.

How do I know vacation is being approved fairly? How do I know my team isn’t being treated differently?

Managers are provided with tips and guidelines to balance their employees' requests while ensuring the business needs are met. However, every part of our business operates differently, and the dynamics of work expectations and time off will naturally align with how that area operates. We encourage you to focus on your needs and how they are being fulfilled. If you have concerns about being treated unfairly, as always, please contact your HR Business Partner.

Can my manager decline my DTO request?

Your manager will try to accommodate time off requests. In certain circumstances, a request for time off may be declined if it impacts the business need or deliverable. It is therefore important to submit all requests for DTO as soon as possible beforehand.

How does the DTO policy apply if I have to take an extended leave of absence? Will I still receive my regular pay?

If you need to be out for an extended leave for illness and/or personal reasons, Gerber’s regular Leave of Absence policies may apply. Please refer to those policies for further details or reach out to your HR Business Partner. Every situation is different, so getting a sense of your context will help us know what is available to you.

Will the time I take off be tracked?

Yes, ensuring that our employees are taking the time they need is vital to the success of this policy. As such, we may pull generalized reports of time off to understand the trends of our organization. Follow this link for instructions on requesting time off in ADP.

How do salaried employees request other time off such as Bereavement Leave, Parental Leave, Jury Duty, etc?

All time off should be recorded utilizing the DTO process in ADP. Use the "Notes" section to add relevant information regarding the time off request, e.g. Bereavement time for a family member, etc.

How do I request Parental Leave, Maternity Leave or Short Term Disability?

As with any Leave of Absence, you should first speak to your manager about taking the time off and the timing. The Leave request should be entered into ADP in the same manner as entering DTO. Use the "Notes" section to comment that it is for Parental, Maternity Leave, etc.

Maternity and Short Term Disability Leaves also need HR involvement. Contact HR via benefits@gerbertechnology.com with your planned leave dates. You will then be requested to complete FMLA paperwork as part of the process.

Can I change or delete my time off request?

Yes, you can edit your time off request directly through ADP. Review the instructions here.