Benefits
Paid Holidays
There are thirteen paid holidays per year. For more detail see the Pay and Holiday Calendar.
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Presidents Day
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Election Day
- Veteran’s Day
- Thanksgiving (2 Days)
- Christmas Day
Annual (Vacation) Leave
Leave year is January 10th- January 9th. Annual Leave is accrued semi-monthly. The amount earned in a pay period depends on the number of years of employment with the State. Separate limits are established for calendar year carryover and for payment due upon separation. A limited amount of accumulation may be carried from year to year.
- All periods of salaried state service and/ or a veteran’s service in the military, National Guard or Reserves will count in setting the accrual rate. Counted service includes all:
- full or part-time salaried state service in positions covered and not covered by the Virginia Personnel Act
- salaried state service that is broken or consecutive
- veteran’s service in the military, National Guard or Reserves
| Years of State Service | Annual Leave Per Pay Period | Annual Leave Per Year | Maximum Annual Leave Carryover | Maximum Annual Leave Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| under 5 | 4 Hours | 96 Hours (12 Days) | 192 hours (24 Days) | 192 hours (24 days) |
| 5 – 9 | 5 Hours | 120 Hours (15 Days) | 240 hours (30 Days) | 240 hours (30 Days) |
| 10 – 14 | 6 Hours | 144 Hours (18 Days) | 288 hours (36 Days) | 288 hours (36 Days) |
| 15 – 19 | 7 Hours | 168 Hours (21 Days) | 336 hours (42 Days) | 288 hours (36 Days) |
| 20 – 24 | 8 Hours | 192 Hours (24 Days) | 384 hours (48 Days) | 336 hours (42 Days) |
| 25 or more | 9 Hours | 216 Hours (27 Days) | 432 hours (54 Days) | 336 hours (42 Days) |
Virginia Sickness & Disability
On January 10th of each year, based on years of state service, eligible employees are credited with 8 to 10 workdays of sick leave and 4 to 5 workdays of family and personal leave. Short and long term disability benefits are provided by this plan after one year of employment for a non-work related injury. Disability benefits provide income replacement if an employee is ill or injured and cannot perform the full duties of their job.
New Hire Initial Allotment for Sick leave and Family/ Personal Leave
| Employment Begin Date | Sick Leave Hours/Days | Family & Personal Leave Hours/Days |
|---|---|---|
| 1/10 — 7/9 | 64 (8 days) | 32 (4 days) |
| 7/10 — 1/9 | 40 (5 days) | 16 (2 days) |
See the Virginia Sickness and Disability Policy for more detail.
Compensatory Leave
If eligible, may be granted compensatory leave for extra hours worked on a holiday, or certain hours worked outside of your regular schedule; granted hour-for-hour.
Civil and Work Related Leave
May be granted leave for jury duty or court appearances, if subpoenaed, and a reasonable amount for interviews for positions in State service.
Community Service Leave
Up to 16 hours of leave per calendar year to provide employees time off with pay for service within their communities. Such service may be provided through school assistance (grades K- 12) or for other allowed volunteer services.
Family and Medical Leave
After one year of employment and having worked 1,250 hours, may take up to 12 weeks (480 hours) of paid/unpaid leave each year in the event the employee is needed to care for a family member (child, spouse, or parent), or for the employee’s own serious health condition.
Parental Leave
Eligible full-time employees are to receive up to eight (8) weeks (320 hours) of paid parental leave to be used within six (6) months of the birth/placement of a child.
Military Leave
Eligible for leave with pay for up to 15 workdays in a federal fiscal year for military duty, including military training, if a member of the armed services or a member of any reserve component of the Armed Forces or National Guard.
Life Insurance
A group life plan, administered by the Virginia Retirement System, is provided at no cost to employees. Basic group life insurance provides two types of insurance during active employment — life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. The amount of basic group life insurance is equal to the member’s annual salary rounded to the next highest thousand, and then doubled. For accidental death, the amount is doubled again.
Health Insurance
A number of different health plans are offered to employees. The State pays an approved amount toward each employee’s premium. View more about healthcare, by clicking here.
Premium Conversion
Allows health care premiums to be paid with pre-tax dollars.
Reimbursement Accounts
The dependent and medical care reimbursement accounts allow employees to establish a plan to deduct certain dependent care and medical care expense from their income with pre-tax dollars.
Deferred Compensation
The Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary supplemental retirement savings program established pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 457(b) and Chapter Six of Title 51.1 of the Code of Virginia. The amount saved accumulates tax-deferred until the Plan amounts are distributed (generally after retirement).
Retirement Benefits
Full-time employees are members of the Virginia Retirement System which provides a monthly retirement benefit for members who meet age and eligibility requirements. Membership in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) is automatic. The VRS retirement plan is a qualified 401(a) defined benefit plan which pays eligible members a lifetime benefit amount based on years of service, age, and compensation.
Training
The Department of Human Resource Management provides training for State employees on a variety of State-specific, human resource, and management topics.
Department of Human Resource Management’s Office of Employment Dispute Resolution
Assists employees and managers in exploring options for resolving work-related conflicts. Administers the employee grievance procedure, independently hears and decides employee grievances, provide a statewide workplace mediation program, and offer related training and consultation for state employees and agency managers.
Commonhealth: The Employee Wellness Program for the Commonwealth of Virginia
Changes in your lifestyle can have a big impact on your health. The CommonHealth employee wellness program strives to make a difference in the health of employees and the workplace by integrating health into the work culture. More than 40 different health promotion services are offered to state agencies, including fitness and stress management, personal health and safety, and weight control and nutrition.
Workers’ Compensation
Compensation is provided for work-related illnesses or injuries.
Public Student Loan Forgiveness
Employment at an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Please visit Federal Student Aide for more information.
*Please see the Department of Human Resource Management page for additional details regarding the Commonwealth of Virginia benefits.
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer