EHRA Conversion for IT Professionals

Background

As part of the 2017 Appropriations Act, the North Carolina General Assembly expanded the exemptions under the North Carolina Human Resources Act (“EHRA”) to include University information technology professional positions. This change in law means that applicable positions will become EHRA Non‐Faculty positions subject the University’s human resources policies rather than those under the NC Human Resources Act (“SHRA”). The University sought this flexibility with respect to certain compensation and leave factors, to be more competitive within the context of a highly competitive IT labor market.  

This page has been created to provide additional information regarding affected positions and process for implementing the change.  Below you will find links to guidance documents developed and provided by the UNC System Human Resources Office.

 

Who is covered?

Individual employees currently in SHRA information technology classifications that are FLSA exempt (those salaried and not subject to overtime) will be offered an opportunity to convert from SHRA to EHRA non‐faculty status. Any SHRA FLSA non‐exempt employees (those paid hourly and subject to overtime) are not affected by this change and will not change to EHRA. The FLSA exempt IT employees who do not choose to convert to EHRA status will continue as SHRA employees.  Affected employees will have the option to convert to EHRA status or to stay SHRA for as long as they remain in their current positions. No employee is required to change their status.  All newly created or vacated FLSA-exempt SHRA IT positions must be posted and filled as EHRA non-faculty as of December 1, 2018.  Employees who elect to remain SHRA but apply for EHRA positions will convert to EHRA if they accept the new positions.


Our first and second election periods were completed in the previous fiscal years.  Our final election period will be from October 1, 2021 - November 15, 2021.  Eligible employees will have 45 days to elect to convert to EHRA or remain SHRA.  After this, no further conversion opportunities will be made available. 

 

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Related Information

 

 For questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 828-262-3187.  

 

Additional Resources

SHRA/EHRA Comparison Chart

Exempt IT Professional Classification Descriptions

FAQs from the UNC System