Lehigh University is moving forward with changes to non-medical employee benefits following an extensive review by a working group of faculty and staff. The revisions, which take effect on July 1, 2026, are part of a broader effort to ensure strong employee support, maintain hiring competitiveness, and achieve long-term financial sustainability.
The review considered recent employee survey results, peer institution benchmarking, and benefits usage data. The guiding objectives for the changes included supporting employees, standardizing offerings for equity where reasonable, preserving competitive advantage in hiring, and managing costs.
Benefit Adjustments Effective July 1, 2026
The announced changes primarily focus on vacation benefits:
- Narrowing the Vacation Benefits Gap: Vacation benefits for nonexempt staff will be increased in years 0 through 10 to narrow the historical gap with exempt staff.
- Modifying Vacation Carryover for Staff: The maximum amount of vacation days staff members (exempt and nonexempt) may carry over and be paid out upon separation will move to a 12-day maximum. Employees have until June 30, 2027, to reduce their existing balances to this new limit. Supervisors should look for additional guidance regarding this change during the summer.
- Eliminating Vacation Carryover for University Leadership: The policy allowing University leadership positions (unclassified staff) to carry over and receive payout for up to one year’s accrual upon separation will be eliminated. Employees in these positions also have until June 30, 2027, to spend down their balances.
Nathan Urban, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, explained the institutional perspective guiding these decisions. “Our decisions must always be made while attending to Lehigh’s mission and long-term goals,” he said. “An important focus for us is sustaining growth in key areas, such as financial aid for students and salaries and support for faculty and staff, while also maintaining financial stability.”
Looking Ahead: compensation review and additional considerations
In addition to the non-medical benefits, the working group provided views on the Lehigh staff compensation system. Aligning with these observations, the university will conduct a comprehensive compensation and career framework review for all staff positions. An outside firm will be engaged for this review within the next 12 months, a process that is expected to take several months to conclude.
Further recommendations from the working group are still under review and will be implemented in ways that minimize disruption to employees, spouses, and dependents currently using benefits. The university plans to share further decisions with the community in the fall.
Chris Cook, Vice President for Finance and Administration, voiced appreciation for the working group. “Attracting and retaining the very best and brightest faculty and staff remains essential to our mission,” she noted. “We are grateful to the working group for the sincere diligence they demonstrated in providing us with recommendations that allow us to maintain strong employee support, hiring competitiveness, and financial sustainability.”
For More Information
You can view more information, FAQ, an executive summary and the full working group report, on the Human Resources website.