UC Irvine Worklife & Wellness-Related Policies & Guidelines

Healthy Meeting Guidelines
Campus meetings and events that include provision of refreshments should meet the nutrition and sustainability guidelines including fruits or vegetables and water, at a minimum, and food options made with whole grains, healthy fats, lean protein sources and modest portions.

Lactation Accommodations
California employers are required to make reasonable efforts to provide break time and space for employees who are nursing their infants to express milk during work hours. View breastfeeding accommodations on campus.

Ergonomic Evaluation and Training Request
The Ergonomics Program encompasses all UC Irvine campus employees whose job functions have the potential for work related injuries and disorders. Through proper ergonomic assessment and training, potential injuries and disorders may be reduced, prevented, and even eliminated. View the Ergonomic Evaluation Time-Line. Ergonomic Product Purchasing Guidelines. Qualify and Apply for the Ergo Aid Program.

Alternative Work Schedules
UC Irvine offers a variety of flexible work arrangements, depending on the needs of the workplace and the individuals doing the work. The use of alternative work schedules enable employees to integrate personal concerns with work concerns  Alternative work arrangements are defined as flexible work schedules and can include: (1) alternate, fixed schedules other than the standard work week of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 pm; (2) telecommuting, flexplace or teleworking(3) part-time work (including job shares); (4) compressed work week; and (5) partial-year career position based on peak periods of activity. Tools to set up telecommuting.

ERIT
ERIT (Employee-Initiated Reduction in Time) is a temporary, voluntary program in which eligible employees may, with the approval of their department, reduce their working hours and corresponding pay between 5 and 50%. ERIT participants, who must remain on pay status at least 50% of full-time each month while on ERIT, continue to accrue vacation and sick leave at their pre-ERIT accrual rate. The program begun on July 1, 2011, and extends through June 30, 2017. Download UCI ERIT flyer.

Health, Safety and the Environment
The University of California is committed to achieving excellence in providing a healthy and safe working environment, and to supporting environmentally sound practices in the conduct of University activities. It is University policy to comply with all applicable health, safety, and environmental protection laws, regulations and requirements.

Smoking
Effective January 1, 2014, UC joins more than 1,100 colleges and universities nationwide by implementing a systemwide smoke & tobacco-free policy. This policy is being adopted by all UC campuses, labs and centers to improve the health and safety of all students, staff, faculty, patients and visitors. The policy prohibits the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, snuff, snus, water pipes, pipes, hookahs, chew, and any other non-combustible tobacco products and is strictly prohibited in indoor and outdoor spaces, including parking lots, private residential space, and the Medical Center campuses. The policy will apply to all UC facilities, whether owned or leased. Sale and advertising of tobacco products is prohibited in university-owned and -occupied buildings. Enforcement is primarily educational, with an emphasis on cessation resources. UCOP Smoke and Tobacco Free Policy

Substance Abuse
UC Irvine is designated a drug-free environment, and only under certain conditions is the consumption of alcohol permitted. In keeping with its educational mission, the University assumes the responsibility to inform the UCI community about alcohol and substance abuse. Sales, consumption, and furnishing of alcohol on the UCI campus are restricted by UCI's Alcohol Policy and California State law, and are controlled by the California Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC).

Reasonable Accommodation
The University provides reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified employees who are disabled or become disabled and need assistance to perform the essential functions of their positions. The interactive process shall be used to determine what, if any, reasonable accommodation will be made.

Work-Life Integration
The University of California is committed to the ongoing development of principles, institutional resources, and a workplace culture supportive of personal and family responsibilities. In aspiring to achieve such a workplace culture, the University will foster work-life integration and support work-life strategies that promote civility, citizenship, and community.

Bicycles
All bicycles operated on the University of California, Irvine campus must display a valid University issued identification sticker. Bicycle riding is permitted on all campus roadways, on dedicated bike paths, and on the inner ring path within Aldrich Park 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Bicycle riding on campus is not permitted on Ring Mall between 8:30 am to 5 pm.

Sustainability
The University of California is committed to minimizing its impact on the environment and reducing its dependence on non-renewable energy. The University will use its purchasing power to promote the availability of products that are resource-efficient, energy-efficient, water-efficient, and of recycled and rapidly renewable content for building materials, subsystems, components, equipment, and supplies. UC Policy on Sustainable Practices

Recycling
The University of California, Irvine is committed to sustainable practices that minimize the campus' "ecological footprint" and conserve finite resources for future generations. We strive to engage students, faculty, staff, the community, and other institutions in the pursuit of common solutions to address social, cultural, and economic needs while protecting the beauty and resources of the natural world around us. Reduce the ever-increasing amount of refuse produced at UC Irvine by recycling materials indoors and out, and printer cartridges in the campus recycling program.

Catastrophic Leave Program
The Catastrophic Leave Program permits salary and benefits continuation for eligible UC Irvine staff who have exhausted all paid leave accruals. They may use donated hours for their own serious illness or injury or to care for a seriously ill member of the employee's family or household. All UC Irvine career employees who accrue and use sick and vacation leave may be able to participate in the Catastrophic Leave Program as recipients or as donors.

Professional Development Policies for Staff
The University supports both career-related and job-related professional development activities. See the UC Personnel Policies for Staff Members. Represented employee should refer to collective bargaining agreements.