Updates to the SPS Employee Handbook

The Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) Human Resources Division has recently updated the State Personnel System (SPS) Employee Handbook and several policies. Following are the highlights of revisions to the SPS Employee Handbook, effective October 12, 2024:

• Added Victims Leave to the categories for which sick leave may be used  
• Removed the requirement for spouses who both work for the State to share FMLA protected leave for the birth or placement of a child or to care for a covered servicemember
• Added a provision for use of Civic Duty Leave for serving as a voting location worker 
• Updated to allow an agency to offer student loan repayment options (dependent upon agency funding and agency needs)
• Added several classifications of covered employees to those eligible to receive meritorious service leave
• Elevated the pre-grievance oral discussion from the immediate supervisor to the Step 1 responding authority in the Covered Employee Grievance Process

You can access and view the SPS Employee Handbook and SPS policies at https://hr.az.gov/about/resources/lawsrulespolicies. If you have questions about the changes, please contact your agency's human resources office.