Paid and Unpaid Leave Policy

Summary

This policy is an omnibus leave policy which summarizes the types of leave available to UNC-CH employees and links to relevant OSHR policies.

Body

University Policy

Title

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Policy on Paid and Unpaid Leave

Introduction

Purpose

The University recognizes the importance of work-life balance and therefore provides employees with both paid and unpaid leave options.  

Scope

This policy applies to all University employees, including SHRA, EHRA Non-Faculty, Faculty, part-time, and temporary employees. However, not all employees are eligible for each leave program. To determine eligibility, employees should review the corresponding Office of State Human Resources or University of North Carolina System policies and/ or the Leave Program and Policies page on the HR at UNC website.  

Policy

Policy Statement

The University provides paid and unpaid leave options to eligible employees in accordance with requirements set by the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (“OSHR”) and the University of North Carolina System Office. Leave options include, but are not limited to:  

  • Bereavement Leave
  • Bonus Leave (when approved by the NC legislature); 
  • Civil Leave (and other Job Related Proceedings); 
  • Community Service Leave;
  • Educational Leave; 
  • Family and Medical, including Caregiver and Qualifying Exigency Leave; 
  • Faculty Serious Illness, Major Disability, and Parental Leave; 
  • Family Illness Leave; 
  • Military Leave; 
  • Other Management Approved Leave; 
  • Parental Leave; 
  • Personal Observance Leave; 
  • Sick Leave;  
  • Transfer Leave; 
  • Vacation Leave (known as Personal or Annual Leave for EHRA employees), and 
  • Workers’ Compensation Leave. 

 For more information, please visit the Leave Programs and Policies page on the HR at UNC website.  

Voluntary Shared Leave 

Employees may donate leave or receive donated leave in accordance with the University’s Voluntary Shared Leave Policy.  

Leave Without Pay 

Employees may request and be approved for leave without pay in accordance with the University’s Employee Leave Without Pay Policy.  

Related Requirements

External Regulations 

University Policies, Standards, and Procedures

Contact Information

Office: Office of Human Resources 

Unit: Benefits, Leave, and Total Wellbeing 

Telephone: (919) 962-3071 

Email: leave@unc.edu  

Publication Details

  • Issuing Office: Linc Butler
  • Effective Date: 1/23/2026
  • Next Review Date: 11/1/2028

 

Details

Details

Article ID: 158842
Created
Wed 10/8/25 10:32 AM
Modified
Fri 1/23/26 8:59 AM
Responsible Unit
School, Department, or other organizational unit issuing this document.
Office of Human Resources
Issuing Officer
Name of the document Issuing Officer. This is the individual whose organizational authority covers the policy scope and who is primarily responsible for the policy.
Issuing Officer Title
Title of the person who is primarily responsible for issuing this policy.
Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources & Academic Personnel
Next Review
Date on which the next document review is due.
11/01/2028 12:00 AM
Last Review
Date on which the most recent document review was completed.
01/23/2026 12:00 AM
Last Revised
Date on which the most recent changes to this document were approved.
01/23/2026 12:00 AM
Effective Date
If the date on which this document became/becomes enforceable differs from the Origination or Last Revision, this attribute reflects the date on which it is/was enforcable.
01/23/2026 12:00 AM
Origination
Date on which the original version of this document was first made official.
01/23/2026 10:31 AM
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level
13.2