Voluntary Shared Leave (VSL)

The Voluntary Shared Leave (VSL) policy is a program that allows State employees the option to donate leave to another State employee who has been approved to receive VSL because of a prolonged medical condition of their own, or of an immediate family member, which will require the employee’s absence from work for a prolonged period of time.

How to Apply for Voluntary Shared Leave

Eligibility

Full-time or part-time (half-time or more) permanent, probationary, and time-limited employees in a leave earning position are eligible.

An employee on maternity leave may be eligible to receive VSL to cover the period of disability related to the pregnancy and/or birth as documented by a physician. VSL cannot be used for parental care of a newborn child absent a documented prolonged health condition.

An employee who is receiving benefits from the Disability Income Plan of North Carolina (DIPNC) is not eligible to participate in the program. VSL may be used during the required waiting period and following the waiting period provided DIPNC benefits have not begun.

 

Use of Leave

In order to receive VSL, an employee must have complied with these existing leave rules:

  • have a prolonged medical condition (or a member of the employee’s immediate family has a prolonged medical condition that required the employee’s absence for a prolonged period of time),
  • submit a Request to Use Voluntary Shared Leave Form
  • produce medical evidence to support the need for leave beyond the available accumulated leave, and
  • be approved by the HR Benefits Office to participate in the program.

An employee may begin using VSL after all available sick and vacation/bonus leave has been exhausted. While using VSL, an employee continues to earn leave; when accounting for leave, this vacation and sick leave should be used first.

 

Donating Leave

The donation and receipt of leave shall be completely voluntary, and anyone who interferes with an employee’s right to choose whether to donate or receive leave shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal on the basis of personal conduct.

In order to donate VSL, an employee (see definition of “Donor”) must, at the time of donation:

  • be an active employee (not separated);
  • be in a position that earns leave; and
  • have sufficient leave balances

The minimum amount of leave that can be donated is four hours.

The maximum amount of vacation leave that may be donated may not be more than the amount of the donor’s annual accrual rate and it may not reduce the donor’s vacation leave balance below one-half of the annual vacation leave accrual rate.

Bonus leave may be donated without regard to the above limitations on vacation.

The maximum amount of sick leave that may be donated may not exceed 1,040 hours and it may not reduce the sick leave account of the donor below 40 hours.

Non-family members may donate sick leave to approved leave participants under the following provisions:

  • The donor cannot donate more than five days (40) hours of sick leave per year to any one non-family member.
  • The combined yearly total of sick leave donated to a participant from non-family member donors may not exceed 20 days (160) hours.
  • Donated sick leave shall not be used for retirement purposes.

The total amount of leave a recipient may receive is 1,040 hours (pro-rated for part-time employees), either continuously or, if for the same condition, on a recurring basis.

Important: At retirement, a member of TSERS with an earned sick leave balance receives an additional month of service credit for every 20 days or portion thereof. The additional service credit increases the retirement benefit for the remainder of the life of the retiree.

 

Application Process

An employee requesting to use Voluntary Shared Leave (VSL) must submit a Request to Use Voluntary Shared Leave Form to the HR Benefits Office.

An employee requesting to donate leave to an eligible employee must submit a Request to Donate Voluntary Shared Leave Form to the HR Benefits Office.

 

Administration of Leave

Voluntary Shared Leave (VSL) is administered through the HR Benefits Office.  For questions, an employee should contact their HR Benefits Consultant.

 

Helpful Resources