Personal Observance Leave

Personal Observance Leave provides up to eight hours of fully paid leave to eligible employees for a day of personal observance to utilize on a day of significance, including days of cultural, religious, or personal observation.

 

Eligible Types of Employees

Personal Observance Leave is available only to employees of a Participating Agency who are permanent, probationary, or time-limited. Temporary employees, interns, and contractors are not eligible for Personal Observance Leave.

To be eligible for Personal Observance Leave, employees must be either (a) full-time or (b) part-time with a schedule that is at least half-time. Part-time employees are not eligible for Personal Observance Leave if they work less than half-time.

 

Amount of Leave

Full-time employees will receive eight hours of Personal Observance Leave each calendar year. Part-time employees will receive a prorated amount based on their number of hours compared to a full-time schedule.

 

Use of Leave

Personal Observance Leave may be used for any single day of personal significance. This includes, but is not limited to, days of cultural or religious importance. The day used for Personal Observance Leave does not have to be a day from the employee’s own religious or cultural background.

The total amount of Personal Observance Leave awarded to an employee must be utilized in one work shift. Employees may use Personal Observance Leave prior to exhausting any accumulated compensatory time (comp time).

 

Other Limitations

  • Personal Observance Leave not taken by the end of the calendar year is forfeited; it shall not be carried into the next calendar year.
  • Personal Observance Leave has no cash value and cannot be converted into retirement credit. Employees shall not be paid for unused Personal Observance Leave at separation. This leave shall not be payable upon death of an employee during state service.
  • Personal Observance Leave shall not be applied to existing negative leave balances. This leave shall not be donated under the Voluntary Shared Leave policy.
  • This leave may not be used for the same purposes as sick leave

 

Refer to the Personal Leave Policy for additional details.