The Office of Human Resources administers leave policies and programs for classified staff and faculty. As an employment benefit, leave provides a means for faculty and staff to take approved time off from work for various reasons. If you have questions about your leave benefits, e-mail us or call 227-7218.
Vacation and Sick Leave:
Leave is available to: permanent SPA full-time, part-time (20 or more hours), probationary, time-limited, or trainee employees; EPA non-teaching; or EPA 12-month teaching. Temporary Employees are not included in leave programs.
Types of leave are:
SPA EMPLOYEES:
Vacation Leave - The vacation leave rate for eligible employees is based upon length of total permanent State service (leave for part-time employees is prorated to the FTE of the appointment). Leave may be accumulated without applicable maximum until December 31. On December 31, vacation leave in excess of 240 hours (30 days) will be automatically converted to sick leave (prorated for part-time employees). Only 240 hours per calendar year may be carried forward to the next calendar year (prorated for part-time employees). Accumulated vacation shall be paid out upon termination of state employment, up to 240 hours (prorated for part-time employees).
Sick Leave - Sick leave is granted to eligible employees at a rate of eight hours per month. Part-time employees are granted sick leave on a prorated basis. Sick leave can be accumulated indefinitely and, at retirement, can be converted to creditable service at a rate of one month for every 20 days of accumulated sick leave or portion thereof. Accumulated sick leave cannot be paid out upon termination of employment. Instead, it remains on the books for five years, and the balance is restored if the employee returns to work for the State before the end of the five-year period.
EPA EMPLOYEES:
Vacation Leave - Vacation leave is earned by permanent EPA employees with non-faculty and 12-month faculty appointments. The earnings rate is set by the Board of Governors at 24 days per year. Leave may be accumulated without applicable maximum until December 31. On December 31, vacation leave in excess of 240 hours (30 days) will be automatically converted to sick leave. Only 240 hours per calendar year may be carried forward into the next calendar year or paid out at separation (for more information, contact the Office of Human Resources).
Sick Leave - Sick leave is earned by permanent EPA employees with non-faculty and 12-month faculty appointments. Leave is accrued at a rate of eight hours per month. Sick leave can be accumulated indefinitely and, at retiremnt, can be converted to creditable service at a rate of one month for every 20 days of accumulated sick leave (applies only to members enrollment in TSERS). Sick leave cannot be paid out upon termination of State service. For participants in the Optional Retirement Program, any sick leave balance is forfeited upon retirement.
Leave and Timesheet Entry:
Information and forms can be found on the Human Resources and Payroll secured WCU HUB page.
SPECIAL LEAVE PROGRAMS INCLUDE:
VOLUNTARY SHARED LEAVE
The voluntary shared leave program allows employees who qualify for the program to receive donated leave time to use when their own leave balances are exhausted in certain qualifying circumstances. Once the employee is approved to receive shared leave, other state employees can donate leave according to guidelines set by the Office of State Personnel and Western Carolina University Policy. Contact the Office of Human Resources and Payroll for guidance on the application process to qualify for this program.
- Office of State Personnel - information on shared leave - see section 5-111
- University Shared Leave Policy
COMMUNITY SERVICE LEAVE:
Leave available to eligible employees to encourage volunteerism in support of North Carolina's schools, communities, citizens and non-profit organizations.