Old vacation policy had been that you worked for a year, and after that year, you immediately had 2 or 3 weeks of vacation accrued to be taken the following year. One month prior to my anniversary date, the policy was changed such that vacation is accrued on a so many hours per month basis. The upshot is that instead of having 3 weeks accrued for next year, I now have zero. I am permitted to take the vacation in advance of having accrued it; however, I had been planning to terminate my employment just after my anniversary date and had thought I would be getting an additional 3 weeks of pay for my accrued vacation. The change in policy was evidently posted on the company Intranet but was not communicated to employees either verbally or in writing. Can they do this? Do I have a right to take my vacation prior to termination? (I have not yet given notice.) If I do, can they take back the pay for the supposedly unearned vacation if I were to leave prior to the end of the year?

Can they make a change to the policy without advance notice to the employees? Yes, they can (in Georgia).

Do I have a right to take my vacation prior to termination? (I have not yet given notice.) That is up to your employer.

If I do, can they take back the pay for the supposedly unearned vacation if I were to leave prior to the end of the year? Yes, they can.