Employee Matters
The Employee Compensation and Benefits Services staff prepares this column.
Classified-employee leave
Along with the New Year, classified employees’ vacation and personal holiday time has arrived. By planning ahead and being aware of options and uses, you can make choices that best fit your situation.
What sort of leave time am I eligible for?
Classified employees are eligible for vacation time depending on their length of service, plus 28 hours of personal holiday each calendar year. This leave time is pro-rated for part-time employees. Limited-term employees are not eligible for sick leave, vacation, holidays or any other leave. Craft workers have a separate leave program.
| Years of Continuous Service | Fair Labor Standards Act Non-Exempt | Fair Labor Standards Act Exempt |
|---|---|---|
|
1-5
|
80
|
120
|
|
5-10
|
120
|
160
|
|
10-15
|
136
|
176
|
|
15-20
|
160
|
200
|
|
20-25
|
176
|
216
|
|
25+
|
200
|
Differences exist in the vacation entitlement between represented classified employees and non-represented classified employees. Represented employees should refer to their collective bargaining agreement for paid leave information.
Do I get a full allocation of vacation and personal holiday regardless of when I start employment with the UW?
Vacation hours are pro-rated for those who start after Jan. 1, but everyone gets the full allocation of 28 hours of personal holiday time.
How do I schedule time off?
Make arrangements with your supervisor to get approval to use vacation or personal holiday time.
If I don’t use all my leave time, what happens to it?
If you don’t use all of your personal holiday hours by the end of the fiscal year, they are lost. With the consent of your department and supervisor, it may be possible to carry over vacation to the following year or bank vacation time in sabbatical leave.
What is sabbatical leave?
Full-time classified employees who earn at the rate of 160 hours per year of vacation or have saved 520 hours of accumulated sick leave (whichever comes first) can defer up to 40 hours of vacation in a sabbatical account for use as vacation, illness, extension of termination, education, etc. Unused sabbatical accrues from year to year and has no limit. Part-time employees may have this benefit prorated depending on whether they are represented or non-represented employees.
Full-time classified employees who earn at the rate of 200 or 216 vacation hours per year are eligible to bank up to 80 hours in sabbatical per year, or they can bank up to 40 hours in sabbatical and receive up to 40 hours in a cash payment.
When can I access my sabbatical account?
Sabbatical leave can be taken anytime, like regular vacation time, with approval from your supervisor.
What happens to my unused sabbatical leave balance when I terminate employment?
The unused balance is paid to you at termination, or can be used to extend your termination date.
If I am interested in putting vacation time into sabbatical or receiving cash payment for my accrued vacation, what do I do?
Eligible employees will be notified of their enrollment options by campus mail in late fall.
Information
Go to http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu. Select Employee, then select Leave Benefits. Or e-mail employee@bussvc.wisc.edu.