COVID-19 Pandemic: Vacation Accrual Cap Lifted

Update - June 3, 2021: The cap on vacation accruals will be reinstated. Review this announcement to learn more.

Update - February 17, 2021: The cap on vacation accruals will remain off and is expected to remain lifted through June 30, 2021. This changes means that the cap will not be reinstated on February 28, as previously communicated. Review this announcement to learn more.

Update - December 3, 2020: The cap on vacation accruals will remain off and will not be reinstated on December 1, 2020. This means that all non-represented staff will continue to accrue vacation time regardless of if they are above the cap. At this time, the vacation accrual cap is expected to remain off through February 28, 2021. Review this announcement to learn more.


To afford staff greater flexibility in the use of vacation time, the Office of Human Resources (OHR) is temporarily lifting the cap on vacation accruals. Retroactive to April 1, 2020, the vacation accrual cap is lifted for all non-represented staff. Eligible staff may accrue vacation time at standard rates beyond the cap until November 30, 2020.

Upon separation, staff will be paid for unused vacation time up to the cap number; that is, compensation for any remaining accrued days beyond the cap will not be provided.

Upon restoration of the cap on December 1, 2020, staff with accrued vacation days at or above the cap will no longer accrue additional days until they use enough vacation time to drop below the cap but will have their full, accrued allotment of days available for use so long as they are employed at Pitt.

Any time accrued above the cap will not be compensated for or paid out to current employees or those who voluntarily leave the University. Current employees will need to use enough time to drop below the cap before they can continue to accrue time; employees who voluntarily separate from the University will be paid out for vacation time, up to the cap, as outlined in the Staff Handbook.

If you have any questions, please contact OHR by submitting a request via the online OHR web form.