Employee Matters

This column is prepared by staff from the Office of Human Resources. E-mail questions to benefits@ohr.wisc.edu or call 262-5650. For more information, visit Payroll and Benefits Services.

Paid-leave benefits: Vacation, sick leave, personal holidays and legal holidays

Many employees are eligible for paid-leave benefits. The amount and type of paid leave available depends on the applicable collective bargaining agreement, Wisconsin statutes, the nonrepresented compensation plan or unclassified leave policies.

The information below describes paid-leave benefits for full-time employees. Employees with a less-than-full-time appointment earn paid leave based on their percentage of appointment. Also, additional rules apply to new hires.

How much vacation do I earn each year?

Classified permanent and project employees (noncraft bargaining unit) earn at least 104 hours of vacation or “annual leave” each calendar year. The amount increases as your years of continuous state service increases. The total amount is granted on Jan. 1, assuming you will be in pay status the entire calendar year.

Unclassified annual pay basis faculty and academic staff employees under the Wisconsin Retirement System earn 176 hours (22 work days) of vacation each fiscal year. The total amount is granted on July 1, assuming you will be in pay status the entire fiscal year.

How much sick leave do I earn each year?

Classified permanent and project employees earn 130 hours of sick leave each calendar year.

Unclassified faculty and academic staff employees under the Wisconsin Retirement System earn 96 hours of sick leave each fiscal year.

How many personal holidays do I earn each year?

Classified permanent and project employees (noncraft bargaining unit) earn 36 hours of personal holiday each calendar year.

Unclassified annual pay basis faculty and academic staff employees under the Wisconsin Retirement System earn 36 hours of “floating” personal holidays each fiscal year.

How many legal holidays are granted each year?

The university (as an agency of the state of Wisconsin) grants nine paid legal holidays per year: Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day); third Monday in January (Martin Luther King Jr. Day); last Monday in May (Memorial Day); July 4 (Independence Day); first Monday in September (Labor Day); fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving); Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve); Dec. 25 (Christmas); Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve).

If Jan. 1, July 4 or Dec. 25 fall on a Sunday, the holiday is observed the following Monday. If any of the other legal holidays fall on a Saturday or regularly scheduled day off employees are granted floating holiday time.

What happens to my paid leave balances at the end of each year?

In general, vacation hours should be used in the year earned (calendar or fiscal), but you may be eligible to carry over a portion into the following year. Sick leave hours accumulate from year to year. Personal and floating holidays must be used in the year earned (calendar or fiscal) or they are forfeited.

Where can I find my paid leave balances?

Classified employees can find paid leave balances on your biweekly earning statements. Unclassified employees can find paid leave balances on your monthly leave statement. Both documents are available electronically in the My UW portal.

Visit Leave Benefits for more.