Grandfathered Vacation Time

[Mersc]

I live and work in Colorado.  My company changed to a PTO policy last year and allowed employees to "Grandfather" unused vacation time.  They are now requesting that we either sell the time back at 50% of our wage rate or use the grandfathered time before the end of the year.  They are saying that if you do not use it or sell it it any remaining balance will be forfeit.  I do not desire to sell my time back at 50% and do not desire to take off all this time.  I am salaried and am very busy.  Can they force me to use it or lose it?  Thank-you.

[waylon]

The statement below is a copy of the Colorado Statute which pertains to vacation pay. It says that the employer must pay it out according to the terms between the employer and the employee. This means that the company has to pay it according to whatever is basically company policy. If it is their policy that they pay 50% than I think that is what you will have to accept.

(III) Vacation pay earned in accordance with the terms of any agreement. If an employer provides paid vacation for an employee, the employer shall pay upon separation from employment all vacation pay earned and determinable in accordance with the terms of any agreement between the employer and the employee.

The Colorado law may be read at the following website:http://www.coworkforce.com/lab/wage.asp

It can be found under the colorado wage act.

Shirley