Time off programs
Everyone needs time off to balance work and personal life. Our flexible paid leave plan lets you take time off in a way that works best for you.
All colleagues, regardless of their status, may accrue paid time-off benefits.
Nebraska Medicine recognizes six holidays each year. Holiday hours are separate from PTO and are not included in your PTO bank. Colleagues will receive paid time off or holiday pay for the following days:
| Recognized holidays | ||
|---|---|---|
| Holiday | Date | Hours provided |
| New Year's Day | Jan. 1 | Full-time: 8 hours Part-time: 4 hours |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May | Full-time: 8 hours Part-time: 4 hours |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Full-time: 8 hours Part-time: 4 hours |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September | Full-time: 8 hours Part-time: 4 hours |
| Thanksgiving Day | Fourth Thursday in November | Full-time: 8 hours Part-time: 4 hours |
| Christmas Day | Dec. 25 | Full-time: 8 hours Part-time: 4 hours |
The paid time off (PTO) bank allows eligible colleagues to accumulate paid hours that can be used for vacation, personal sick leave, family care and personal activities. Colleagues have the flexibility to decide how they use their earned PTO.
Full-time and part-time colleagues
Accrual details
- PTO begins accruing from the start of employment or transfer to an eligible employment category.
- Accrual occurs each pay period.
Maximum PTO bank limit: 320 hours
- Once the maximum limit is reached, further accrual will stop until the balance falls below the maximum.
PTO accrual rates
| Full-time colleagues | ||
|---|---|---|
| Continuous Service (Years) | Accrued Per Pay Period | Maximum PTO Hours Accrued Per Year |
| 0 to 5 | 6.15 hours | 160 hours |
| 5 to 10 | 7.08 hours | 184 hours |
| 10 to 20 | 8.31 hours | 216 hours |
| Over 20 | 9.23 hours | 240 hours |
| Part-time colleagues | ||
|---|---|---|
| Continuous Service (Years) | Accrued Per Hour Worked | Maximum PTO Hours Accrued Per Year |
| 0 to 5 | 0.0654 hours | 136 hours |
| 5 to 10 | 0.0769 hours | 160 hours |
| 10 to 20 | 0.0885 hours | 184 hours |
| Over 20 | 0.1038 hours | 216 hours |
Casual and non-benefits eligible colleagues (0 FTE to less than .5 FTE)
Accrual details
- PTO begins accruing after colleague has worked 80 hours.
- After 80 worked hours, colleagues will accrue one (1) hour of PTO for every 30 hours worked.
- Accrual occurs on a pay-period basis.
Maximum PTO bank limit: 56 hours
- PTO benefits may accumulate up to a maximum of 56 hours, and colleagues may use up to 56 hours in a calendar year.
| Casual and non-benefits eligible colleagues | |
|---|---|
| Accrued Per 30 hours worked | Maximum PTO Hours Accrued Per Year |
| 1 | 56 hours |
Certain positions are eligible for flex time*, granted instead PTO. Flex time covers all time off. Bereavement leave, military leave, FMLA, MLOA, PLOA, civic/jury duty and holidays are dictated by specific policies. Learn more about flex time.
*Dually employed physicians, CRNAs, physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), perfusionists, senior associate general counsels, associate general counsels, managers, directors, executive directors, vice presidents and chiefs do not accrue PTO.
Nebraska state law requires employers to provide up to 56 hours of paid time off that can be used as sick leave annually. This is paid time off that is accrued.
Colleagues can use up to 56 hours of accrued PTO, per calendar year, designated as sick time. Colleagues will not be issued an occurrence when using their 56 hours of PTO when designated as sick time in UKG, in a calendar year.
This 56 hours of PTO is paid time off that is accrued according to a colleague’s years of service. It is not a separate bank of paid time off (or sick time).
- If a colleague has used their 56 hours of PTO designated as sick time in a calendar year, and must call out absent, they will receive an occurrence according to the attendance policy.
- If a colleague does not have enough PTO to cover a sick day or has not accrued enough PTO to cover a sick day, they will receive an occurrence.
Colleagues must request PTO through UKG. To ensure the absence is tracked as an excused occurrence, colleagues must label it as “Attend-Sick Time,” using the comment section in UKG to designate the time off is for sick time.
For instructions on how to request sick time in UKG, review this article in ServiceNow.
For complete details, review HR01 attendance policy and HR22 PTO/flex time policy, located in the Policies and Procedures Manual on the NOW under Quicklinks.
Leaves of absence
Whether planned or unexpected, we understand you may need time off to care for a loved one, serve your community or country, cope with a loss or address other important matters. Whatever the reason, you can take the time you need with confidence.
To apply for Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA), Living Donor Leave or Paid Parental Time, follow these steps to file a claim with Reliance Matrix.
For personal and military leave, you can submit a request through Workday. Log in to Workday, go to the menu, select "Request a Leave of Absence," and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Eligibility will follow the law – employees are eligible for leave under FMLA after one year of employment with a minimum of 1250 hours worked.
- Available for care of self or eligible dependents.
- May be eligible for short-term disability pay (60% of base pay) for employee’s own disability.
- May be eligible for paid parental time.
- Available for employees who are a parent through birth or adoption.
- Must be .5 FTE or greater to be eligible.
- Must be approved for FMLA.
- May be qualify for up to three weeks paid time at 60% of base pay.
- Immediately eligible for up to 12 weeks leave for your own serious health condition.
- Must be .5 FTE or greater to be eligible.
- Eligible for MLOA if not eligible for FMLA.
- May be eligible for short-term disability pay (60% of base pay).
- Up to 12 weeks, with manager approval.
- Must be a continuous leave.
- Must use accrued PTO or flex time.
- Policy complies with the Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA).
- Full-time employees are compensated for the difference between the military pay and their regular Nebraska Medicine pay, based on FTE rate for four weeks (up to 160 hours).
- Must include a copy of orders when submitting a leave request in Workday.
- Time off for kidney or liver organ donation.
- Must be full-time (0.9 FTE or greater) at the time of leave.
- Must have 12 months of service with Nebraska Medicine.
- Must work at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months immediately preceding the start of the leave.
- Eligible colleagues may receive up to four (4) weeks of paid leave for organ donation.
- Apply for leave through Matrix.
Taking civic or bereavement leave
If you need to take time off for civic duties or the loss of a loved one, we’re here to support you. Be sure to talk with your manager and review the information below to understand your leave options and how to proceed.
All employees are granted civic leave for scheduled shifts missed due to civic duties such as jury duty, election board duty and job-related witness duty. Talk with your manager to request time off.
- Up to five shifts (or up to 40 hours) of scheduled shifts that are missed due to the death of an employee’s spouse, domestic partner, child (including loss of a child due to miscarriage), brother, sister, stepson, stepdaughter, stepmother, stepfather, stepbrother, stepsister, mother, or father.
- Up to three shifts (or up to 24 hours) for scheduled shifts that are missed due to the death of an employee’s father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and spouse's grandparent.
- Employees may use PTO, if approved by the supervisor if additional time is needed.
- Talk with your manager to request time off for bereavement.
Get paid to volunteer in your community
The Community Strong Program reflects our organization’s dedication to community service. Benefit-eligible colleagues can volunteer and receive paid time off each year: eight hours for full-time and four hours for part-time colleagues. This time must be used with 501(c)(3) organizations.
A 501(c)(3) organization is a nonprofit exempt from federal taxes. Note that local churches, schools, sports teams and volunteer work within Nebraska Medicine do not qualify.
