Annual Leave

THE LANGUAGE USED IN THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT CREATE AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE AND THE AGENCY. THE DOCUMENT DOES NOT CREATE ANY CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS OR ENTITLEMENTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVISE THE CONTENT OF THIS DOCUMENT, IN WHOLE OR IN PART. NO PROMISES OR ASSURANCES, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, WHICH ARE CONTRARY OR INCONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS OF THIS PARAGRAPH CREATE ANY CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.

Departmental Responsibility: Office of Human Resources
Topic: Leave - Annual Leave
Policy: Annual Leave
Effective: September 28, 2006
Last Revised Date: June 28, 2017

Annual Leave Policy

Goal:

To provide annual leave to all full time equivalent (FTE) and time-limited employees with standard hours of 20 or more per week. 

Eligibility:

Annual leave shall be earned by and granted to employees in FTE and time-limited positions whose standard hours are 20 or more per week. Employees must be scheduled to work at least one half of the workweek or the equivalent of one half of the workweek.

Ineligibility:

Employees in FTE or time-limited positions whose standard hours are less than 20 or who are not scheduled to work the equivalent of one half of the workweek are not eligible to accrue annual leave. Student workers and employees in temporary grant, temporary and intermittent positions are not eligible to accrue annual leave.

Process:

Eligible employees are required to use the University leave system to request leave. The employee's department should assist in obtaining the necessary user id and password to access the use of the leave system.

Scheduling and Usage

Eligible employees are asked to submit annual leave request(s) to their supervisors in a timely manner, enabling supervisors to properly plan for absences. Failure to submit requests in a timely manner could result in the request being denied and no pay leave being substituted for the time missed.

Eligible employees may use up to 30 days of annual leave in a calendar year. Employees using their annual leave for an illness or injury or who are caring for members of their immediate family who are sick or injured may request to use more than 30 days. The illness or injury must be certified by a health care provider, and the additional leave requires approval by the University president.

Maximum Carryover

An eligible employee may carry over 45 days of annual leave from one calendar year to another. Any annual leave in excess of the 45 days will be deleted from the employee’s leave balance.

Payment of Unused Annual Leave Upon Separation

Upon separation from employment, employees in regular full-time equivalent (FTE) positions and temporary time-limited positions receive a lump-sum payment for unused annual leave not to exceed 45 days. Exceptions: (1) retired members of the South Carolina Police Retirement System (PORS) engaging in post-retirement employment with Clemson University are not eligible for lump-sum payments for unused leave regardless of the initial retirement date, and (2) all retirees hired by the University after June 30, 2005, are ineligible for lump-sum payments for unused leave. TERI participants are eligible for lump-sum payments when their TERI period ends or when they otherwise separate from state service. 

For definitions, see the OHR Glossary of Terms.

For more information on Annual Leave, review the SCOHR Annual Leave Policy.

Click on the link to verify your leave balances, submit leave requests, and run a leave report.