Volunteer time during work day now limited to 7.5 hours a month

The University recently updated guidelines for how many hours full- and part-time regular staff can take with pay each month for volunteer activities or professional development.

Full-time regular staff are eligible for 7.5 hours total paid time per month for either volunteer activities or to participate in professional development opportunities during regular working hours. Part-time regular staff are eligible for pro-rated volunteer time and professional development time based on their full-time equivalency.

Staff can’t take 7.5 hours for volunteer time and 7.5 hours for professional development during the same month. But they may take a partial day for volunteering and a partial day for professional development time in the same month; however, that time may not exceed a combined 7.5 hours in a month.

Time for volunteer and/or professional development must be requested by the employee and approved by their supervisor prior to the time being taken.

The temporary COVID-19 volunteer policy of eight hours per week and the Staff Handbook release time policy (for career-related development workshops/seminars) ended on Dec. 31, 2021. These guidelines became effective as of Jan. 1, 2022.

These guidelines do not apply to faculty, temporary employees, or executives. Represented employees should review their collective bargaining agreement for eligibility for paid volunteer time, professional development time, or a combination of both. Temporary employees should work with their supervisor on professional development opportunities. 

For more information about these new guidelines, please refer to the University’s Staff Handbook.

For more information about utilizing volunteer and professional development time, how to record this time on time cards in Pitt Worx, and other frequently asked questions, visit the Volunteer and Professional Development Time Guidelines page.

For questions about these updated guidelines, submit an inquiry online at www.hr.pitt.edu/contact-ohr.