黑料正能量

黑料正能量
Human Resources  ›  Benefits and Pay  ›  Time Away from Work  ›  Volunteer Time Off

Volunteer Time Off

Beginning May 4, 2026

黑料正能量 is committed to civic responsibility and community engagement. To support your passion for giving back, the university has launched a Volunteer Time Off (VTO) program. This initiative allows eligible staff members to dedicate a portion of their regular working hours to supporting non-profit organizations and government agencies that benefit our broader community.

On this page: The Benefit | Eligibility Requirements | What Qualifies as "Volunteer Work? | How to Request VTO | Important Limitations

The Benefit

  • Allotment: You can receive up to 15 hours (2 days) of paid volunteer time per year.
  • Usage: Beginning May 4, 2026, you can take VTO in full-day (7.5 hours) or half-day (3.75 hours) increments. To qualify, you must complete at least 6 hours of volunteering for a full day or 3 hours for a half day.
  • "Use It or Lose It": VTO does not roll over to the next year and is not paid out if you leave the university.
  • New Hires: If hired between Jan. 1 – June 30, you get 15 hours. If hired July 1 – Oct. 31, you get 7.5 hours. If hired Nov. 1 or later, you do not get VTO.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Employment Type: While most full- and part-time staff (including those in Qatar and Rwanda) are eligible, several groups are excluded. This includes union, SEI, and TES employees, as well as non-benefits eligible part-time staff and fixed-term staff (4 months or less). Additionally, eligibility does not extend to student-related roles such as interns, TAs, RAs, CAs, or recent graduates.
  • Performance: You must demonstrate satisfactory performance within the past six months.
  • Grant-Funded Roles: Approval is subject to the specific guidelines of your grant; consult with your supervisor and the Office of Sponsored Programs.

What Qualifies as "Volunteer Work"?

  • The Organization: Must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit or a non-partisan government agency.
  • The Activity: Must benefit the general community (e.g., food banks, community centers, park maintenance).
  • Exclusions — You cannot use VTO for the following (though PTO may be used):
    • Activities Lacking Broad Community Benefit. VTO is intended for service that supports the community at large. Activities performed primarily for the benefit of an employee's immediate family or household are excluded. For example, attending a child's school event, chaperoning your child's specific class, or doing landscaping or home repairs for a relative are personal activities, but volunteering for a school-based program that serves the entire student body or local neighborhood (e.g., a community literacy program or regional donation drive) is qualifying volunteer work.
    • Partisan political campaigning.
  • Timing: The activity must occur during your regularly scheduled work hours. Activities done on weekends or off-hours do not qualify for VTO.

How to Request VTO

  1. Advance Notice: Submit your request at least one week in advance.
  2. Documentation: You must complete a VTO form [pdf] (including the organization name and description of activity) to attach to your request.
  3. Workday: using the "Volunteer Time" absence type. Once you attach the completed VTO form, you must choose "Time Off" as the category before hitting Submit.
  4. Special Note for Rwanda: You must get pre-approval from HR (Irene Munene) before submitting anything in Workday.

Important Limitations

  • Voluntary Participation: Participation in any VTO activity must be strictly voluntary.
  • Supervisor Discretion: Approval is not guaranteed; it is subject to operational feasibility and business continuity. You are responsible for ensuring your work responsibilities are managed during your absence.
  • Department Events: If your department organizes a volunteer day and you choose to participate, that time counts toward your annual VTO limit. Employees who are not eligible for VTO can use PTO to participate in departmental or team volunteer events.
  • University Events: Volunteering in support of a university event or activity (e.g., Commencement, Advancement or alumni events, Homecoming, Carnival) does not count toward your VTO total and should not be submitted as VTO.

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