The George Washington University has updated time off benefits and implemented tools to help staff and faculty better understand, access and manage their time away from work.
“We value the time our people invest in GW,” said Jennifer Lopez, associate vice president of total rewards. “Employees deserve to take full advantage of time away to recharge and enjoy life outside work. To demonstrate this commitment, we have worked during the past year to update our time off program.”
A new guide, available later this spring, will provide a one-stop shop for information on all of GW’s paid time off and leave benefits. The release of the comprehensive guide is another way the university is showing employees it prioritizes time off, Ms. Lopez added, building on the announcement last year that GW would offer a winter break, closing during the last week in December through the New Year.
For now, employees can review significant changes in the “What’s New and What’s Changing” resource. Changes include:
- Beginning July 1, all employees—including nonexempt and exempt—will use Kronos, a centralized time off tracking system, to request and manage paid time off. Managers will review and approve staff time off requests through Kronos.
- Effective July 1, nonexempt staff will receive more time off, accruing annual time at the same rate as exempt staff, based on years of service.
- Beginning in fiscal 2020, all employees who are eligible for paid time off will be allowed to “carry over” up to five accrued, but unused, annual leave days from the current fiscal year into the next fiscal year. The balance must be used by Aug. 31 of the new fiscal year. For example, an employee with four accrued but unused days as of June 30, 2020, would automatically carry the days forward but they must be used by Aug. 31, 2020. Previously, this policy required approval by departments and divisions leaders.
Later this spring, the university will host information sessions to provide an overview of the guide as well as in-person and online learning opportunities to assist employees with navigating Kronos. More information is forthcoming.
Questions? Contact [email protected] or visit the time off project page.