The State of North Carolina values a work-life balance and offers a generous leave package in support of this mission. Our hope is to have our employees excel at work, be involved in the community and have a balanced home life. The State offers leave in the following categories: holidays, vacation, sick, community service, family medical, family illness, military, personal observance leave, voluntary shared, and civil leave.
Personal Observance Leave
Personal Observance Leave was established by Executive Order 262 on June 6, 2022. It may be used by eligible employees for any single shift or calendar day of personal significance, including but not limited to days of cultural or religious importance.
Civil Leave
Leave with pay is provided to employees when serving on a jury or when subpoenaed as a witness. However, the Civil Leave Policy does not apply to time taken off work for voting.
Community Service Leave
In recognition of the State’s diverse needs for volunteers to support schools, communities, citizens, and non-profit organizations, and recognizing the commitment of State employees to engage in volunteer service, Community Service Leave, within the parameters outlined below, may be granted to:
- parents for child involvement in the schools (as defined below)
- any employee for volunteer activity in the schools or in a Community Service Organization (as defined below), or
- any employee for tutoring and mentoring in the schools, or
- any employee for volunteering in a State of North Carolina Public University, Community College System or State agency provided that the service is outside of the employee’s normal scope of duties and responsibilities and that the employee is not receiving any form of compensation for the services rendered.
Special guidelines are outlined in the Other Management Approved Leave policy to cover Emergency Services, Blood and Bone Marrow Donorship and Disaster Service Volunteer with the American Red Cross.
Family Medical Leave
A FMLA Policy is available to permanent employees with at least one year of current service (permanent or temporary) who are regularly scheduled to work 20 hours or more each week (half time) are eligible to apply for up to 12 weeks of family medical leave in any given 12 month period.
Family Illness Leave
Under the Family Illness Leave Policy, an employee is entitled to up to 52 weeks of leave without pay during a 5-year period to care for the employee's seriously ill child, spouse, or parent.
Holidays
State employees receive 12 paid holidays annually. They are set by the State Human Resources Commission. Employees receive Holiday Premium Pay and equal time off for holiday work. Each year the State publishes a holiday schedule.
Military Leave
The Military Leave Policy states that up to a maximum of 120 hours may be granted annually to eligible employees.
Paid Parental Leave
Paid Parental Leave is triggered for eligible employees by the qualifying event of becoming a parent by birth, adoption, foster care or other legal placement of a child. Eligible state employees who give birth will receive eight weeks of paid leave to recover from the birth and to bond with and care for their newborn. Other eligible state employees will receive four weeks of paid leave to bond with and care for the child. Paid Parental Leave will be paid at 100 percent of the eligible employee’s regular pay.
Vacation Leave
At least 112 hours (14 days) of vacation leave is provided yearly to permanent, probationary, trainee and provisional employees. As length of service increases, the amount of leave earned increases. Leave is prorated for part-time employees. The Vacation Leave Policy is prorated for part-time employees.
Voluntary Shared Leave
State employees may donate leave to another employee who has been approved to receive voluntary shared leave under the Voluntary Shared Leave Policy. Voluntary Shared Leave may be used for a medical condition of the employee or of a member of the employee's immediate family.
Sick Leave
The Sick Leave Policy allots 96 Hours (12 days yearly) of sick leave. This leave is provided to permanent, probationary, and trainee employees. Leave is prorated for part-time employees.