10 Things You Need to Know about County Leave

Summer and the end of the fiscal year are right around the corner. You may be planning some time off to enjoy the beautiful weather and time with family or friends. As you plan these things, be sure to utilize your different kinds of leaves and be mindful of the accrual process and deadlines for use.

The County offers eligible employees 12 paid holidays, one paid floating holiday, paid annual leave, paid sick leave, paid wellness leave, and paid volunteer leave, among other types. Here are ten things you should know about your Henrico County Employee paid leave:

1. You can see all the pay periods, paydays, and paid holidays on the Employee Payroll Calendar.
2. This fiscal year ends on Friday, June 16, 2023. B01, or the first pay period of the next fiscal year, starts on Saturday, June 17, 2023.
3. Sick and annual leave accrues on a pay period basis. In order to accrue sick or annual leave, an eligible employee must be in a paid status for at least seven-eighths (7/8) of their standard hours in a pay period. 
   1. For example, an 80‐hour employee must be in a paid status for 70 or more hours, and a 112‐hour employee must be in a paid status for 98 or more hours in order to accrue sick or annual leave.
4. All annual leave balances are reduced to the maximum for all eligible full-time County employees at the end of the last pay period in the fiscal year (June 16, 2023).

NOTE: This table shows the maximum for full-time eligible employees that work 40 hours per week. For eligible full-time fire suppression employees that work 56 hours per week, please view the table in Section 8.6 of the Policies and Procedures.

5. All full-time employees in authorized positions are credited with one floating holiday, 16 hours of wellness leave, and 8 hours of paid volunteer leave at the beginning of each fiscal year (pay period B01). 
6. Floating holiday, wellness, and volunteer leave must be used in the fiscal year that they are earned. 
7. If you want to use volunteer leave but are not sure what is permitted, please read the leave policy on the employee website and then contact your direct supervisor with questions. Our County Volunteer program provides multiple options across many interests through the non-profit organizations we have partnered with. Currently, there are five outside organization partners but we are looking for more. 
8. Wellness leave can be used to take care of personal needs. Note: New employees hired (or re-employed) after April 30 of the fiscal year do not earn wellness leave at the time of their employment but must wait until the beginning of the following fiscal year to be credited.
9. At the end of the fiscal year, HR completes a carryover process that calculates every employee’s amount of leave carried over to the new physical year. At the end of the fiscal year, if you try to view or create a B01 timecard or leave of absence before this process is completed, you will see a “0” accrual balance. This process is usually on the first Wednesday of the new fiscal year.
10.  If you have questions about your timecards or leave, please read Section 8 of the Policies and Procedures or contact your department’s timekeeper.

There are many benefits to having paid time off, such as reduced stress levels, reduced risk of chronic illness, more productivity, and higher morale. Knowing when and how to use your leave can help you achieve work-life balance. Remember to take advantage of your available leave before it’s too late!