Updated plan for shared sick leave changes
To: UGA faculty and staff
From: Human Resources
Subject: Updated plan for shared sick leave changes
As outlined in a campus-wide memo distributed last December, the University System of Georgia recently put in place a Shared Sick Leave policy which is different from the UGA Shared Leave Program. During 2016, UGA will transition the procedures for shared leave so our program aligns with USG policy.
The first step in the process will occur during the annual open enrollment period in the fall. Individuals who wish to participate in the 2017 UGA shared sick leave program (including receiving shared leave in the future) must first donate a minimum of eight hours SICK leave during the fall open enrollment period. In addition, you must have a 40-hour sick leave balance after the donation is taken from your accrued sick leave on January 1, 2017.
Although we initially anticipated a July 1, 2016 start date for the shared sick leave “pool” process, we requested and were granted by the University System, an extension of the transition period to allow faculty and staff more time to accrue the sick leave required to enroll during open enrollment this fall.
New requirement
Because individuals can receive shared sick leave ONLY if they donate eight hours sick leave to the pool during open enrollment, and because they must have a balance of 40 sick leave hours after their donations, this memo should alert you to ensure you accrue the necessary sick leave if you are interested in participating in the shared sick leave program for 2017. A total of 48 hours sick leave will be required to join the program (eight-hour donation plus 40-hour balance) during open enrollment, usually in November each year.
In addition to the open enrollment donation requirement, the primary changes for 2017 are:
- Faculty and staff will donate to a shared leave “pool” instead of the current requirement to name individual recipients of shared leave
- In order to participate in the program, employees must complete their initial provisionary period in a benefit-eligible position by January 1, 2017
- Only sick leave can be donated
In January 2017, the UGA Shared Sick Leave program will be the same as the University System of Georgia Shared Sick Leave program.
Until that time, the current UGA Shared Leave guidelines and procedures are located at http://www.hr.uga.edu/shared-leave.
More information will be communicated as part of the open enrollment process this fall. If you have any questions, please contact UGA Human Resources at
benefits@uga.edu
or 706-542-2222.