1. Buying leave hours

The Individual Choices Model allows you to buy additional leave hours using your salary, holiday allowance or end-of-year bonus. You should always consult your immediate supervisor before buying additional leave hours. In some cases, your request may be turned down, for example because there is too much work.

• You may only buy full hours.
• You must use the extra leave hours in the same calendar year. Unused leave hours expire at the end of the calendar year.
• You may buy additional leave up to maximum 10% of your working hours.
• The value of the holiday allowance is determined on the first day of the month they are requested.

You can buy additional leave via Self Service. As you complete the application form, you will automatically see how much additional leave hours cost.

Buy additional leave hours via the 'Forms' tile under the General tab on the Service Portal >>

More information about applying, please read this Knowledge Item.

2. Selling leave hours

If you have leave hours left and no intention of using them, you may sell your supplementary vacation leave hours. You can sell a maximum of 38 leave hours per year, irrespective of whether you work full-time or part-time. Before selling your leave hours, you should consult your supervisor. You may be asked to submit your request again in the second half of the year. In some cases, your request may be rejected, for example because it would cause scheduling problems, or there is too little work to fill the extra work hours.

• You may only sell supplementary leave hours
• You may only sell full hours.
• You are only allowed to sell leave hours that you have accrued over the current calendar year. You are therefore not allowed to use leave hours from previous calendar years.
• If you have multiple contracts with the University, the maximum of 38 hours applies to all contracts combined.
• For all targets in the Individual Choices Model together, you may use a maximum of 76 leave hours. Of these 76 leave hours you may therefore convert a maximum of 38 into salary.
• Your leave hours will be paid out gross, which means you will have to pay tax over this extra salary.
• The value of the holiday allowance is determined on the first day of the month they are requested.

You can sell your supplementary leave hours via Self Service. As you complete the application form you will automatically see how much you will receive for the hours you sell.

Sell your supplementary leave hours by logging in to Remote Workplace, then choose SAP Self Service >>

More information about applying, please read this Knowledge Item.

3. Extend your parental leave

You can use the Individual Choices Model to extend your parental leave by saving a maximum of 76 additional leave hours per year. The hours you add to your parental leave via the Individual Choices Model will be paid out in full.

• You can only save additional leave for parental leave that has already started or is due to start within 3 years.
• You cannot save for additional parental leave for longer than three years. 
• You have to use the hours saved for parental leave within 3 years of the start of the period in which you save.
• You have to use the hours saved for parental leave before the child becomes 8 years old. 
• Instead of saving leave hours you can also immediately add the saved hours to the parental leave you take in the current calendar year.
• For all targets in the Individual Choices Model together, you may use a maximum of 76 leave hours. Do you have several employment contracts with the university? If so, this applies to all employment contracts combined.
• You can only use leave hours saved in the current calendar year. You have to retain the statutory minimum of 4 weeks holiday per year.

Apply to extend your parental leave via the 'Forms' tile under the General tab on the Service Portal >>

More information about applying, please read this Knowledge Item.

4. Extra leave for study/training

You can save extra leave to follow a study or training programme. These hours are added to your study leave balance. The saved hours should be used before the end of your study programme.

• You may only save for a study or training programme that will help you in your work now or in future or that will promote your career development.
• Instead of saving leave hours you can also immediately add the saved hours to the study leave you take in the current calendar year.
• For all targets in the Individual Choices Model together, you may use a maximum of 76 leave hours. Do you have several employment contracts with the university? If so, this applies to all employment contracts combined.
• You can only use leave hours saved in the current calendar year. You have to retain the statutory minimum of 4 weeks holiday per year.

Apply for extra leave for study/training via the 'Forms' tile under the General tab on the Service Portal >>

More information about applying, please read this Knowledge Item.

5. Increase your leave balance with the long-term savings option

The long-term savings option allows you to save a maximum of 72 leave hours per year. With the Individual Choices Model you can extend this by a maximum of 76 additional leave hours per year. You can therefore save a maximum of 72 + 76 = 148 hours per year. 

• You have to re-apply for the extra leave hours option in the Individual Choices Model every year.
• You may only use the leave hours you have saved in the current calendar year.
• You may use a maximum of 76 leave hours for all targets in the Individual Choices Model together. If you have multiple contracts with the University, the maximum of 76 hours applies to all your contracts combined.
• You must retain the statutory minimum of 4 weeks holiday per year.
• Do you have a function-based contract? Then you cannot use the long-term savings option.

Apply to increase your leave balance with the long-term savings option via the 'Forms' tile under the General tab on the Service Portal >>

Deadline

If you wish to use your gross salary for one of the Individual Choices Model leave targets, or if you wish to sell or save leave hours, you have to submit your application no later than 30 November. If you wish to use your holiday allowance, you have to submit your application no later than 30 April. If you want to use your end-of-year bonus, then you have to submit your application not later than 31 October.