Skip to main content

Leave & Holidays

Update on University Closed Days: In order to provide additional flexibility for employees, especially those who may have used more leave than what they initially planned pre-pandemic; Wednesday, Dec. 30 and Thursday, Dec. 31 will now be optional work days for employees as opposed to University Closed days, where they would be required to use leave.
UNC employees who wish to work on these days must coordinate with and receive prior approval from their supervisor to do so. For those who receive approval to work, please note that campus services will in general be operating at normal holiday closure levels.

Holiday Calendar 2020-2022 (PDF)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recognizes that it is important for employees to have time away from work. Below you will find the University’s holiday schedule and more information about our leave programs.

UNC-Chapel Hill Holiday Schedule for 2020-2022:

HOLIDAY 2020 2021 2022
New Year’s Day Wed., Jan. 1 Fri., Jan. 1 Fri., Dec. 31, 2021
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Mon., Jan. 20 Mon., Jan. 18 Mon., Jan. 17
Spring Holiday Fri., April 10 Fri., April 2 Fri., April 15
Memorial Day Mon., May 25 Mon., May 31 Mon., May 30
Independence Day Fri., July 3 Mon., July 5 Fri., July 4
Labor Day Mon., Sept. 7 Mon., Sept. 6 Mon., Sept. 5
Thanksgiving Thurs., Nov. 26 and
Fri., Nov. 27		 Thurs., Nov. 25 and
Fri., Nov. 26		 Thurs., Nov. 24 and
Fri., Nov. 25
Winter Holiday Break Thurs., Dec. 24 –
Tues. Dec. 29*		 Fri., Dec. 24 –
Wed., Dec. 29*		 Mon., Dec. 26 –
Thurs. Dec. 29*
University Closed** Wed., Dec. 30** and
Thurs., Dec. 31**		 Thurs., Dec. 30 Fri., Dec. 30

 

*Dec. 29, 2020, Dec. 29, 2021 and Dec. 29, 2022 represent the Veteran’s Day Holiday.

**Update on University Closed Days: In order to provide additional flexibility for employees, especially those who may have used more leave than what they initially planned pre-pandemic; Wednesday, Dec. 30 and Thursday, Dec. 31 will now be optional work days for employees as opposed to University Closed days, where they would be required to use leave.
UNC employees who wish to work on these days must coordinate with and receive prior approval from their supervisor to do so. For those who receive approval to work, please note that campus services will in general be operating at normal holiday closure levels.

View Holiday Calendar 2020-2022 (PDF)

If you have any questions about the holiday schedule, please contact the Benefits & Leave Administration Unit in the Office of Human Resources at 919-962-307. UNC Health employees may follow a different holiday schedule than the University.

Twelve-month faculty are entitled to 24 days of vacation leave and 12 days of sick leave per calendar year. The amount of annual leave is adjusted proportionately for part-time faculty members in covered positions who work half-time or more. Leave is earned on a monthly basis. The monthly earnings amount is equal to one-twelfth of the annual leave accrual rate for each month the faculty member works or is on an approved least with pay at least half the working days of the month.

Nine-month faculty members do not earn either vacation or sick leave. They are eligible for paid serious illness and parental leave (see Leave of Absence section for additional details).

Permanent employees regularly scheduled to work at least 20 or more hours per week, and who are in pay status for at least one-half of the days in a month, are eligible to earn leave. Permanent full-time employees (40 hours per week) earn vacation and sick leave according to the chart below. Employees who work less than 40 hours per week earn leave on a pro-rated basis according to the number of scheduled work hours each week.

Years of Service
Vacation Leave
Annual Accrual
Sick Leave
Annual Accruals
 0-5
112 hours
96 hours
5-10
136 hours
96 hours
10-15
160 hours
96 hours
15-20
184 hours
96 hours
20+
208 hours
96 hours

EHRA Non-Faculty Employees are entitled to 24 days of vacation leave and 12 days of sick leave per calendar year. The amount of annual leave is adjusted proportionately for part-time employees in covered positions who work half-time or more. Leave shall be earned on a monthly basis. The monthly earnings amount is equal to one-twelfth of the annual leave accrual rate for each month the employee works or is on an approved least with pay at least half the working days of the month.

The Chancellor, Provost, Deans and Directors of major centers who are classified as EHRA Non-Faculty Tier 1 Senior Academic and Administrative Officers are entitled to 26 days of vacation leave and 12 days of sick leave per calendar year.

The University recognizes the importance of community involvement and encourages employees to participate in volunteer activities by providing flexibility in work schedules and paid leave opportunities. Community Service Leave (CSL) is a paid time off program for participation in the educational process of children through the high school level and to support other community service volunteer activities for non-profit organizations.

The University has a voluntary “Shared Leave” program that allows one employee to assist another employee in the case of a prolonged medical condition that exhausts the employee’s available leave and would otherwise force the employee to be placed in leave without pay status, resulting in a loss of income and benefits.

Learn more: Voluntary Shared Leave

The University makes available a variety of leave programs for employees including: