For more specific information, please refer to the OPEIU Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 10: Vacations.

Why would I use Annual Leave?

Annual leave is to be used for absences for vacation purposes. Annual leave must be scheduled in advance. Annual leave shall be granted subject to management's responsibility to maintain efficient operations. The leave calendar year is defined as the first full pay period in January through the pay period that includes December 31.

How is annual leave earned/accrued?

Hire Date Years of Service (YOS) Rate Hours per pay Days per year Hours per year
On or after 7/1/2012 First year of service 2.69% 2.15

7

56
On or after 7/1/2012 Years 2-3 3.85% 3.08 10 80
On or after 7/1/2012 Over 3 YOS 5.77% 4.62 15 120
Before 7/1/2012 Years 1-15 6% 4.8 15.6 124.8
Before 7/1/2012 Years 16-25 8% 6.4 20.8 166.4
Before 7/1/2012 over 25 YOS 10% 8 26 208

Hired On or After July 1, 2012:

  • For the first year of service, annual leave is earned at a rate of 2.69 percent or regular hours paid, or 2.15 hours per pay for full-time employees working a 40.00 hour week/80 hours biweekly work schedule.
  • More than one year to three years of service, annual leave is earned at a rate of 3.85 percent of regular hours paid.
  • More three years of service, annual leave is earned at a rate of 5.77 percent of hours paid.

Hired Prior to July 1, 2012:

  • More than one year to 15 years of service, annual leave is earned at a rate of 6.00 percent of hours paid.
  • More than 15 years to 25 years of service, annual leave is earned at a rate of 8.00 percent of hours paid.
  • More than 25 years of service, annual leave is earned at a rate of 10 percent of hours paid.

How do I request and use annual leave?

Requests are made through Employee Self-Service (ESS).

  • Employees must have at least 30 calendar days of service before annual leave can be used.
  • Employees with less than one year of service may only request to use annual leave that has been earned to date.
  • Employees with more than one year of service may request to use annual leave that is expected to be earned in the current leave calendar year.
  • Requests to use paid annual leave must be made in advance of the absence unless the employee has been approved to use annual leave as FMLA Leave.

What happens if I don't use all of my annual leave in the same calendar year?

  • Unused annual leave may be carried over from one leave calendar year to the next up to a maximum of 45 days.
  • Annual leave in excess of 45 days that is not used within the first seven pay periods of the new leave calendar year is converted to sick leave up to the maximum sick leave accumulation.

What happens to my unused annual leave if I end employment or retire?

Employees who retire, resign, or otherwise separate from the university are entitled to receive a payout of unused annual leave. The payout is based on the number of days available on the last day of employment and the employee's salary at the time of separation.