Duke provides time away from work to eligible staff members for a variety of reasons — personal, family, community and other outside needs and obligations. At the same time, it is necessary to place reasonable limits on time away from work to ensure that each staff member's job responsibilities are properly carried out, and that all staff members are treated fairly and consistently in dealing with time away from Duke.

Holidays, Vacation & Sick Time

Campus and Medical Center staff accrue benefit time using a traditional vacation, holiday, and sick time model.

Paid Time Off (DUHS)

Duke University Health System (DUHS) provides a Paid Time Off (PTO) program for eligible employees which puts vacation, sick leave, holiday, and funeral leave into one program.

Leaves of Absence

Duke recognizes that during a regular staff member's career circumstances may arise which require a prolonged leave of absence from work. A leave of absence requires the approval of the requesting employee's department.

Paid Parental Leave

Duke provides up to six consecutive weeks of 100 percent paid parental leave to the eligible parent serving as the primary caregiver following the birth or adoption of a child.

Kiel Vacation/PTO Donation

The Kiel Vacation/PTO Donation Program allows employees the opportunity to donate accrued vacation or PTO hours to fellow employees who have experienced a catastrophic illness or injury and who have exhausted all accrued time, thus resulting in a prolonged, unpaid leave of absence.

Other Work Absences

Duke also provides for other types of work absences, including workers' compensation, funeral leave, voting time, jury duty leave, flexible work arrangements, and disability insurance.