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System HR News

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  • Vacation and Sick Leave Changes for Overtime Exempt Civil Service Staff

    We write today to share information related to our vacation and sick leave policies. In 2018, as the University of Illinois System assessed the impact of a change in the State Universities Civil Service System procedures, we identified an opportunity to standardize time reporting, and vacation and sick leave benefits and their usage, for our civil service employees who are exempt from overtime per the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 

  • System Offices November/December/January (2022 - 2023) Year-End Calendar

    As we approach the December/January (2022-2023) year-end calendar, please refer to the System HR tool that outlines work days, paid holidays and gift days, how to report leave time, and timesheet/payroll deadlines.  

  • Schedule of Approved Holidays for FY25

    The schedule of approved holidays for fiscal year 2025 is below.

  • Schedule of Approved Holidays for FY24

    The schedule of approved holidays for fiscal year 2024 is below.

  • Reminder: Academic Vacation Leave Rollover

    Last June, we communicated that all academic employees (faculty, academic professional, and post docs) who are eligible for vacation leave would be allowed to rollover a maximum of 53 (increased from 48) vacation leave days from AY 2019/2020 to be used in AY 2020/2021. Employees who rolled over up to five (5) days of accrued but unused vacation from AY 2019/2020, in addition to the 48 days maximum, must use those extra days by August 15, 2021. The rollover maximum of 48 days will be restored for AY 2021/2022. 

  • Policy and Leave Updates: FMLA, VESSA, and UFML

    As a result of several recent legislative changes, the University of Illinois System has made some updates to the following leave benefits: Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), University Family Medical Leave (UFML) to care for a same-sex domestic partner or civil union partner, and Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Leave (VESSA).

  • PLFAW System Updates

    This communication is to provide University of Illinois System employees with updates about Paid Leave for All Workers (PLFAW) balances and leave reporting.  

  • Notice for Election Day 2024

    The general election will take place this year on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. This day is not designated as a holiday for universities in Illinois. However, time off to vote may be available in accordance with State of Illinois law.

  • Juneteenth Holiday

    As President Killeen announced in his June 17th communication, we are pleased to add Juneteenth National Independence Day to the University of Illinois System holiday schedule beginning June 2022.

  • Illinois Family Bereavement Leave Act

    Earlier this year, we communicated the leave provision changes due to the  Illinois Family Bereavement Act. The University of Illinois System Human Resources website has been updated to reflect these changes and may be viewed on the Family Bereavement Leave webpage.

  • Election Day Holiday

    Everyone is encouraged to vote during the upcoming general election. Following is a general reminder about time off to vote.

  • Celebrating Juneteenth 2022

    As a reminder, the University of Illinois System will observe Juneteenth on Friday, June 17, 2022.

    The first observance of the Juneteenth holiday, which falls on a Sunday this year, will occur on the preceding Friday to accommodate academic scheduling. Going forward, it will be observed on the date of June 19 when it occurs on a weekday, or following forthcoming state guidance for observance when it falls on a weekend.

  • Are You Retiring or Separating from the University of Illinois System?

    You may be eligible to defer unused vacation leave into the University 403(b) or State or SURS 457 retirement plans.

  • Are You Retiring or Separating from the University of Illinois System?

    You may be eligible to defer unused vacation and/or compensable sick leave into the University 403(b) or State 457 retirement plans.

  • Additional Gift Day 2021

    We are pleased to announce that, this year, an additional paid day off will be added to the December/January year-end calendar. The additional paid time off is part of our ongoing efforts to show how much we appreciate your hard work, resiliency, sacrifice and commitment – qualities that have shone brightly throughout the COVID-19 crisis. In the face of extraordinary challenges both on the job and at home, you have come together to not only pull the University of Illinois System through the historic storm but to make it a model for the nation.

    Employees who are eligible for leave benefits will receive an additional paid gift day on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. This addition will amend this year’s Reduced Service Days to be December 29, 30 and 31, 2021 and January 4, 2022. Combined with holidays, other paid time off and weekends, this will extend the year-end break from Friday, December 24, 2021 through Tuesday, January 4, 2022.

    For employees in union-represented bargaining units, paid time off for the holidays is addressed through the required collective bargaining process.

    Thank you for helping sustain our more than 150-year legacy of excellence. We hope you are able to have some much-deserved time with family and friends over the next two months.

    Sincerely,

    Tim Killeen, President, U of I System

    Avijit Ghosh, Interim Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs, U of I System

    Robert J. Jones, Chancellor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Michael Amiridis, Chancellor, University of Illinois Chicago

    Karen Whitney, Interim Chancellor, University of Illinois Springfield

  • Academic Vacation Leave Rollover

    The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant changes to our current work and living environments, thus affecting our ability to use vacation leave at this time. To enable employees to utilize their earned vacation leave time, vacation leave eligible academic employees (faculty, academic professional, and post docs) will be allowed to rollover five (5) accrued but unused vacation leave days from AY 2019/2020 to be used in AY 2020/2021. The maximum rollover of vacation leave in August 2020 will be 53 days (424 hours). Any days accrued in AY 2019/2020 (up to five (5)), rolled over to AY 2020/2021, must be used on or before August 15, 2021. The maximum vacation leave rollover of 48 days will be reinstated for AY2021/2022. As a reminder, floating holidays must be used by June 30th; unused days do not rollover to the new fiscal year.