WHY WORK FOR THE STATE?

While State employees may be required to work overtime, overtime requirements are not generally an ongoing aspect of State of Utah jobs. Most State employees work a regular Monday through Friday, morning through afternoon schedule, except employees who work in institutional settings and some who work in public-safety related jobs.

State employees earn vacation leave (we call it annual leave) based on their years of service. New employees will start accruing four hours of annual leave each pay period. Accrual rate will increase to a max of seven hours per pay period depending on years of service. The pay period is a two-week period of which there are 26 per year; therefore, a new benefited employee accrues 104 (4 x 26) hours of annual leave per year. While taking annual leave use must be pre-approved by an employee’s supervisor, the employee may be able to use it as soon after it is awarded on the employee’s pay records.

State employees receive holiday leave pay for the following eleven federal and state holidays: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington and Lincoln Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Pioneer Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, & New Year’s Day. If an employee is required to work on a holiday, the employee accrues eight hours of leave to be used on another date.

In a similar manner as annual leave, all benefited State employees earn 4 hours of sick leave per pay period, which employees can use when they themselves are ill, or to care for an ill spouse, child, or parent who resides in their home. Sick leave may also be used for preventative care, such as dental exams, cancer screenings, physical exams, and well-baby care. Many full-time State of Utah employees enjoy flexible start and end times; and some State agencies permit their employees to “flex” a day during the week, such as by working four ten-hour shifts and taking Friday’s off. All such flexible work schedule arrangements require supervisory approval.

The State of Utah values its highly skilled and highly educated workforce and encourages the ongoing development of its employees. Some State of Utah departments offer tuition assistance and others have internal training programs to facilitate professional development. For recent college graduates, the State of Utah has an internship portal where paid and unpaid internships may be listed.

Employees grow within their chosen career fields through on-the-job learning and formal training. State jobs are often part of larger job families, which permits competent and motivated employees to pursue options within their chosen career areas, such as by moving up to positions involving supervisory or managerial responsibilities, or by becoming more technically proficient in advanced duties and career paths. Promotion from within is common in the majority of State of Utah agencies.

The State of Utah values and encourages diversity within in its work force and continues its efforts to attract, retain, and utilize a diverse and highly qualified work force by providing equal access to hiring, promotion, and training opportunities.

For employees desiring leadership roles, the State of Utah offers the Utah Certified Public Manager Program, a nationally accredited professional development program focusing on developing management skills, increasing the capacity of public managers to lead people, designing effective work processes, and pursuing self-mastery.