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Leave Payout / Transfer

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The following summarizes guidelines for annual/vacation and bonus leave payout and transfer eligibility for twelve-month faculty members when separating from the University or moving into a different position within the University. Nine-month faculty members earn no leave and therefore have no eligibility for transfer or payout.

Please note that only members of TSERS are eligible to have sick leave credit converted to creditable service upon retirement. For ORP participants, any unused sick leave balance at termination or retirement is forfeited.

For questions about leave, please contact the Benefits & Leave Administration by emailing leave@unc.edu or calling 919-962-3071.

 

 

Separating from the University

Twelve-month faculty members do not have a payout of vacation, bonus or sick leave for twelve-month faculty members when separating from employment from UNC-Chapel Hill. Any remaining leave not used prior to termination is forfeited. Faculty members may donate forfeited leave to employees who have been approved to receive donations under the University’s Voluntary Shared Leave Program.

Twelve-month faculty members may negotiate the use of any remaining annual/vacation or bonus leave with their Department Chair prior to separation from the University. Department Chairs may set the final separation date, taking into account the granting of such leave; however, this is at the Chair’s discretion based on the budgetary and operational limitations of the department.

 


 

Returning to the University

Faculty who separate from the University and later return will receive a new Total State Service Date (TSSD) and need to complete a Creditable Service: State of North Carolina form to receive credit for prior years of service. Email the form to HR Records at hr_records@unc.edu for completion.

 


 

Phased Retirement

There is no payout or transfer of vacation leave, bonus leave or sick leave for faculty members entering the Phased Retirement Program. Faculty members forfeit remaining leave balances when entering phased retirement. However, once phased retirement begins, faculty members will earn pro-rata leave based on their half-time appointment status, and leave accrual will start anew.

Faculty members may negotiate the use of any remaining vacation or bonus leave with their Department Chair prior to entry into the Phased Retirement Program. Department Chairs may but are not required to grant such leave based on the budgetary and operational limitations of the department. Department Chairs do not have the discretion to allow any remaining vacation, bonus or sick leave balances to be transferred to the fixed-term appointment the faculty member will hold during phased retirement.

Any remaining vacation, bonus or sick leave not used prior to the date of their retirement (that is, before entering phased retirement) will be forfeited. Faculty members may donate forfeited leave to employees who has been approved to receive donations to employees who have been approved to receive donations through the University’s Voluntary Shared Leave Program.

 


 

Transfer within the University

Twelve-month faculty members are not eligible to transfer or payout of any remaining vacation or bonus leave when transferring to:

  • Another department
  • EHRA Non-Faculty position

For twelve-month faculty members transferring to an SHRA position, any remaining sick leave will transfer.

Twelve-month faculty members may negotiate the use of any remaining vacation or bonus leave with their Department Chair prior to transferring. Department Chairs may set the final termination date taking into account the granting of such leave; however, this is at the Chair’s discretion based on the budgetary and operational limitations of the department.

 


 

Transfer from Other State Agencies or UNC Campuses

Vacation leave and bonus leave do not transfer to UNC-Chapel Hill from other State agencies or from other UNC System campuses.

Any remaining leave should be paid out by the State agency or UNC campus in accordance with their specific policies.

Note that each State agency or UNC System campus may have different policies with regard to acceptance of leave from other agencies.

 


 

Transfer to Other State Agencies or UNC Campuses

While faculty members are not eligible for payout of vacation or bonus leave upon separating from UNC-Chapel Hill, the transfer of a twelve-month faculty member’s unused leave when moving to another State agency or UNC System campus may be governed by policies of that agency or campus.

If such agency or campus wishes to receive a letter certifying the amount of leave forfeited by a faculty member upon their separating from UNC-Chapel Hill, they should contact HR Records.

Note that each State agency or UNC System campus may have different policies with regard to acceptance of leave from other agencies.

 


 

In the Event of Death

In the event of the death of a twelve-month faculty member (fixed-term, tenure-track or tenured) active or on-leave status with the University, vacation leave earned but not taken, up to a maximum of 240 hours (pro-rated for part-time employees) and all earned bonus leave, will be paid to the estate of the faculty member.

 


 

Note: This policy was originally established by the Office of the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel, reaffirmed and now applicable to all departments of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost on Feb. 7, 2007.