June 26, 2003
Discretionary leave gives supervisors another way to reward good service
With another year of state budget cuts, UW supervisors may be looking around for ways they can reward good employees. Human Resources would like to call to their attention a benefit called Discretionary Leave.
“As we continue to look for creative ways to recognize and reward employees in these fiscally restrained times, supervisors are reminded to use discretionary leave for their Professional staff,” said Randi Shapiro, manger of Work/Life, an HR department. “Being awarded extra leave time for a job well done is always appreciated by employees.”
Discretionary Leave is paid time off work that a department or division head may award to a level 1, 2 or 3 professional staff employee to recognize the employee’s outstanding achievements and work efforts. Up to six days of discretionary leave may be awarded per calendar year.
“Recognition is one of the most effective ways to reinforce an organization’s culture, support its objectives, and retain top performers,” Shapiro said. “Recognizing those star performers who have most significantly contributed to your unit’s mission, goals, and/or objectives through the award of discretionary leave can have a powerful, positive effect.”
Shapiro says the University wants to encourage supervisors to take advantage of the discretionary leave policy without hesitation. Details about the policy are below:
Definition
Discretionary Leave is paid time off work that a department or division head may award to a level 1, 2, or 3 professional staff employee to recognize noteworthy achievement and work effort that have significantly contributed to the unit’s mission, goals and/or objectives. Up to six days of discretionary leave may be awarded per calendar year.
Authorization and Record Keeping
The supervisor prepares a written request to the department/division head that explains:
- The nature and duration of the assignment for which discretionary leave is to be awarded; and,
- The number of days of discretionary leave that are recommended.
The department/division head reviews the request and approves, denies or modifies the discretionary leave award.
If approved, one copy of the request and the approval must be sent to the Compensation Office and one copy retained with the employee’s Professional Staff Personnel Program Employees Work and Leave Record UW #1648 (available from Stores).
Discretionary Leave Use
Discretionary Leave should be used soon after it is awarded and it must be used before vacation leave. Discretionary Leave must be used by Dec. 31 of each year, or it will be lost and deducted from the record unless an extension is pre-authorized by the appropriate vice president or dean. An extension may not exceed 90 days. Unused discretionary leave may not be paid, and does not transfer to a new organization unit.
Link
http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/pol.proc/prostaff/ps.part2.html#discretionary
