University of Washington Policy Directory

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*Formerly part of the University Handbook
Administrative Policy Statement
45.10


Shared Leave Program for Classified Non-Union and Contract-Classified Staff, Professional Staff Employees, and Librarians

(Approved by the Provost and Executive Vice President by authority of Executive Order No. 4 and the Vice President for Human Resources by authority of Executive Order 9)



1.  Policy

University of Washington employees who accrue leave may participate in the Washington State shared leave program (RCW 41.04.650) that allows eligible employees to donate a portion of their accumulated vacation leave, sick leave, and/or personal holiday to another University of Washington employee, state of Washington employee, or a Washington State school district or educational service district employee who is eligible to receive shared leave, or to the Washington State Uniformed Services Shared Leave pool.

A leave-accruing University of Washington employee may be eligible to receive shared leave donations when the employee's available paid leave has been, or is about to be, depleted in accordance with the requirements described on the University of Washington Shared Leave Program web page, and the employee has been approved to receive shared leave donations in accordance with University procedures. University of Washington employees who meet eligibility requirements may also request leave from the Washington State Uniformed Services Shared Leave pool.

In accordance with state and University procedures, shared leave may be donated or requested in the following circumstances:

  • When an employee has a severe, extraordinary, or life-threatening illness or injury and the employee has used, or is about to use, all of the employee's eligible annual and sick leave.

  • When an employee has caregiver responsibilities for a relative or a household member with a severe, extraordinary, or life-threatening illness or injury, and the employee has used, or is about to use, all of the employee's eligible annual and sick leave.

  • When an employee is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking and the employee has used, or is about to use, all of the employee's eligible annual and sick leave.

  • When an employee is called to serve in the uniformed services and the employee has used, or is about to use, all of the employee's eligible annual and paid military leave.

  • When an employee serves as an approved emergency worker and the employee has used, or is about to use, all of the employee's eligible annual leave.
The maximum amount of shared leave an employee can receive during his or her state employment is 522 days.

2.  Requesting to Donate or Receive Shared Leave

For detailed information about the conditions under which shared leave may be donated and received, the procedures for donating and receiving shared leave, and the definitions of terms applicable to the University of Washington shared leave program, see the Human Resources Web page for Shared Leave.

3.  Additional Information

For additional information or assistance, contact the appropriate Human Resources Service Team Member listed on the Human Resources Service Team Assignments web page.

February 1997; December 10, 2002; January 14, 2009; December 20, 2011.