Paid Time Off

Harvard's generous paid time off benefits – including vacation, personal and sick time, holidays and leave for new parents – combined with a number of unpaid leave opportunities support a healthy balance of work and personal responsibilities.

Our paid time off includes:

  • 20 days of vacation per year for administrative/professional staff, accrued at a rate of 1-2/3 days per month. You may carry unused vacation days into the next year, with a 30-day maximum for those with less than five years of service and a 40-day maximum for those with at least five years.
     
  • 15 days of vacation per year for support staff, accrued at a rate of 1-1/4 days per month. Vacation time increases to 20 days per year after five years of service, accrued at a rate of 1-2/3 days per month. You may carry unused vacation days into the next year, with a 30-day maximum for those with less than five years of service and a 40-day maximum for those with at least five years.
     
  • 3 personal days annually offer additional flexibility in balancing work and life. Personal days are given on January 1 and must be used by December 31.

    New employees receive personal days on a prorated basis depending upon start date: January 1-March 31 - 3 personal days; April 1-June 30 - 2 personal days; July 1-September 30 - 1 personal day.
  • 12 sick days per year, accrued at rate of one day per month. In addition to using sick days to care for yourself, you may use up to 12 days per year to care for a sick family or household member. Unused days may be carried over from year to year, up to a maximum balance of 130 days.
     
  • 12.5 paid holidays plus a Winter Recess during the week between Christmas and New Year

Staff members must request paid time off using PeopleSoft. While this is an automated system, you should discuss time off with your manager as far in advance as possible. 

For exempt staff: All absences for exempt employees should be reported in ½ day increments or full days. The minimum absence increment that should be reported by an exempt employee is ½ day based on the employee’s schedule:

Example:

  • 3.5 hours for a 7 hour work day
  • 4 hours for an 8 hour work day
  • ½ of the day’s scheduled hours for a flex schedule employee

Employees should not report time off in increments other than those listed above.

For non-exempt staff:the minimum absence increment that should be reported in the system is 1/4 hour. Non-exempt employees should report time off in increments of 1/4 hour or full hour increments.

The paid time off policies summarized on these pages apply to administrative and professional staff; overtime eligible, non-bargaining unit staff; and employees covered by HUCTW, except as noted. Members of other bargaining units should consult their union contract for time off policies. Faculty members should contact their dean’s or faculty affairs office. All paid time off is prorated for part-time schedules.