Volunteer Paid Leave

A day to make a difference

We have staff that love the opportunity to give back to the community throughout our campuses. That’s why every year, our employees are able to receive one day (eight hours) of paid leave for participating in a community volunteer event, sponsored by an IU school or unit.

One volunteer paid leave of up to eight hours is available each calendar year for staff employees who participate in a community volunteer event, sponsored by an IU school or unit. Volunteer paid leave is available to all staff employees at IU.

How it works

A campus, school, or unit may work with an eligible non-profit organization to set up a specific event where staff employees may choose to volunteer (e.g. a Habitat for Humanity build), or designate a day when staff employees may volunteer for eligible non-profit organizations that are selected and approved in advanced by a vice president, or the campus chancellor, provost, or dean, or that individual’s designee.

Paid volunteer leave cannot be split up over days—it must be used in a single day.

Eligibility and approval details

  • The volunteer activity must support a non-profit organization outside of Indiana University and meet the criteria in Indiana Code (IC 35-44.1-1-3).
  • Volunteer work for IU does not qualify for paid volunteer leave.
  • Supervisors must approve staff participation in advance.
  • The campus, school, or unit must notify IU Human Resources ahead of time via askHR@iu.edu.

Staff employees may use up to one paid workday (up to 8 hours) per calendar year for an approved volunteer event. For multi-day events or additional events during the year, you may use vacation, PTO, or income protection time.

Paid volunteer leave applies only to the time spent actively volunteering during the designated event.