On Oct. 30, Governor Kim Reynolds announced that state employees will be granted two extra days of paid leave.

Here's how the University of Iowa plans to implement this for vacation eligible faculty and staff:

Twelve-month faculty, Professional and Scientific (P&S) staff, Staff Nurses, Allied Health Professionals (SEIU), and Merit staff, will see two additional paid leave days credited to their banked vacation balance. The first day will be added around Nov. 30 and the second around Dec. 29.

Some details about the program:

• You have the option to use these extra days as regular vacation time, allowing flexibility and benefiting both you and your respective departments.
• If you work less than 40 hours per week, the two days (16 hours) will be prorated accordingly.
• If you have already reached your maximum vacation balance, you will still receive these extra days of paid leave.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to your local supervisors or HR representative for further assistance.

Please note this is a special addition of vacation hours and does not change current university practice regarding banking of vacation. Employees who are at their vacation maximum will also receive the hours, as these hours do not count toward an employee's vacation maximum.

Thank you again for all you have done this semester to support our students and community. I hope these additional days off provide you time to rest and recharge.

Frequently asked questions

What if I’ve already reached my maximum vacation balance?

Vacation eligible faculty and staff who have already reached their maximum vacation balance will still receive two extra days of paid leave as banked hours.

What are banked hours?

Banked hours are earned in excess of maximum vacation accruals. Banked hours and accrued hours are different even though they are both components of the vacation balance. Banked hours do not count against the maximum and are the last to be used after the employee’s accrued hours have been depleted.

Who is eligible?

Vacation eligible faculty and staff, including twelve-month faculty, Professional and Scientific (P&S), Staff Nurses, Allied Health Professionals (SEIU), and Merit staff. To receive the additional paid days off, individuals must have an active employment status as of Nov. 22 and Dec. 26, 2023.

Who isn’t eligible?

Employees in temporary, on-call, or emergency roles, as well as students hired through the Office of Student Financial Aid and in student-specific positions, along with faculty on academic-year (9-month) appointments, do not qualify for vacation pay and therefore are not eligible for these additional days of paid leave.

When will I receive these additional days?

The first extra day will be added around Nov. 30 and the second around Dec. 29. To receive the additional paid days off, individuals must have an active employment status as of Nov. 22 and Dec. 26, 2023.

Where will these hours appear in Employee Self-Service?

Banked hours are found under Time & Pay > Vacation & Sick Leave in Employee Self-Service. These extra days of paid leave will be added to your banked vacation balance and appear as banked hours using the 'IA' code in your Vacation/Sick Report.