While the comprehensive leave program will be developed with stakeholder input and implemented over time, we are implementing these changes now as the first phase of this new program.

 

Changes to personal leave and additional cost-savings measures effective Sept. 1

 

Annual personal days changed to floating holidays

• Starting Sept. 1, 2020, the three days of personal leave currently accrued every year for full-time employees will be replaced with three days of floating holidays. 
• Current personal leave balances as of Aug. 31, 2020 will remain available. More information will be communicated on how any unused personal leave balances after Aug. 31, 2020 will be managed.
• All three floating holidays will be available at the beginning of the fiscal year and must be taken by the end of the current fiscal year. Floating holidays will be prorated during the fiscal year for new employees according to their start date:
  • Employed as of 9-1 - Three floating holidays 
  • Hired between 9-2 to 12-31 - Two floating holidays
  • Hired between 1-1 to 4-30 - One floating holiday
  • Hired on or after 5-1 to 8-31 - No floating holidays
• Floating holidays will not be carried over into the next fiscal year.
• Mission critical days are treated differently than floating holidays and can be used for up to 12 months after the scheduled date. 

Mandatory seven days of leave must be taken Sept. 1, 2020 through Feb. 28, 2021

As part of our financial continuity plan to reduce expenses and meet our target budget for fiscal year 2021, all employees must take a minimum of seven days of accrued personal leave between Sept. 1, 2020 and Feb. 28, 2021. This cost-saving measure is an important mechanism to further reduce our leave liability similar to the five-day leave plan requirement implemented in fiscal year 2020 for the May–July time period. This cost-containment measure will allow the institution to reduce expenses by approximately $9 million while we recover from the financial impact of the pandemic expected to continue into fiscal year 2021. For more information about how taking accrued leave reduces our institutional expenses, refer to this summary.  

• Employees should work with managers to schedule their seven days of leave and prioritize taking personal leave until that leave is exhausted, then use vacation leave.
• Employees with two years or less of service with the state of Texas as of Oct. 1, 2020, are exempt from taking the seven days of leave, but are encouraged to take leave as available.
• Employees who have less than seven days of personal and/or vacation leave are encouraged to use their available leave.

Benefits of implementing these changes

• It is important that employees take agreed upon time away from work to rejuvenate.
• Efforts are in place to reduce our leave liability over time, significantly decreasing the financial burden for our institution and ensuring the sustainability of our missions.
• Floating holidays allow employees to take agreed upon time away as needed for different stages of life and personal needs and supports our continual efforts around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. For example, employees can take floating holidays based on personal preferences for holidays or special observances. These days must be scheduled in advance with supervisors for approval.
• The current fiscal year 2021 holiday schedule remains in place.