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Staff Handbooks

Staff handbooks are maintained by the Office of Human Resources and contain rules and guidelines pertinent to staff members. Some Carnegie Mellon campuses have their own staff handbooks or addenda to address location-specific exceptions and regulations.

Addenda to the Staff Handbook

Summary of Updates

The following key updates are reflected in the Staff Handbook: A Human Resources Guide and/or the California Staff Handbook: A Human Resources Guide. For any questions regarding these updates, please contact your HR business partner.

Summary of Changes

Affected Handbook(s)

Effective Date

Section III. Compensation and Benefits:

  • Updated the Spending Accounts subsection to include reference to the recently added Health Savings Account and Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account options.
  • Staff Handbook
  • California Staff Handbook
 3/15/23

Section IV. Staff Relations:

  • Updated the Staff Grievance Procedure to refer staff members to the Office for Institutional Equity and Title IX for Statement of Assurance violations.
  • Staff Handbook
  • California Staff Handbook
 1/25/23

Section III. Compensation and Benefits:

  • Expanded the reasons for which eligible California staff members may take unpaid leave under the California Family Rights Act to include care for a "designated person" with a serious illness
  • Updated bereavement to reflect unpaid bereavement leave available for California staff members
  • California Staff Handbook
 1/1/23

Administrative update to Handbook to realign content, update outdated references or titles, and reflect current policy, benefit offerings, and employee safety protocols applicable to staff members
  • Staff Handbook
  • California Staff Handbook
 7/1/22

Section III. Compensation and Benefits:

  • Added reference to recently issued Human Resources Paid Holidays Policy
  • Detailed leaves of absence related content, including eligibility, leave entitlement, procedures for application and leave duration transitioned to the recently issued Human Resources Staff Leave of Absence Policy and supporting Leave of Absence Guidelines for Staff 
  • Staff Handbook
  • California Staff Handbook
 7/1/22

Section III. Compensation and Benefits:

  • Clarified restrictions on the use of floating holidays for eligible staff members
  • Updated location-specific leave of absence benefits available to California staff members
  • California Staff Handbook
 7/1/22

Section IV. Staff Relations:

  • Clarified the definitions of adverse actions grievable under the formal Staff Grievance Procedures
  • Staff Handbook
  • California Staff Handbook
 5/6/22

Section IV. Staff Relations:

  • Updated the formal Staff Grievance Procedures including steps of the process and timelines
  • Staff Handbook
  • California Staff Handbook
 4/14/21

Carnegie Mellon's Staff Handbook: A Human Resources Guide [pdf]