With increased workloads and restrictions on travel extending from spring into summer due to COVID-19, many of us have built up more accrued vacation leave than usual. A newly approved temporary increase will allow employees additional time to take vacation, and make it easier for you to hold onto your accrued leave until you’re ready to use it.

Under the Absence from Work Policy (PPSM-2.210), policy-covered staff who reach the maximum accrual stop earning more vacation leave until their balance falls below the maximum – with a four-month extension allowed under certain circumstances. On June 29, 2020, President Napolitano approved a temporary increase to that four-month extension for eligible staff, effective retroactively from June 1 through Dec. 31, 2020. 

Who is eligible

This policy change applies to policy-covered staff at locations other than Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Policy-covered staff who earn PTO should refer to their location’s PTO program for eligibility information. This does not apply to represented employees.

How it works

The extension will be applied automatically through UCPath. If you are eligible, you will continue accruing vacation leave through Dec. 31, 2020, even if you are over your usual maximum accrual. On Jan. 1, 2021, policy-covered staff who are over their maximum accrued vacation leave will no longer accrue additional leave until they bring their vacation balance below the maximum.  

Please note:  To find your maximum accrual, log into your UCPath Online account at ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu, then select Employee Actions > Leave Balances. Your maximum vacation accrual is displayed at the bottom of the chart.

Questions?

If you have questions about your accrued vacation leave, please contact your local HR office.