The City University of New York

CUNY is the largest urban public university in the world, with 24 colleges and graduate schools, spanning all of New York City’s five boroughs. The system includes 11 senior colleges, seven community colleges, and six graduate, honors and professional schools, including the journalism and law schools.

The university is committed to providing education for all, and this effort extends to employees who wish to further their learning.

Tuition is waived for all employees, part-time and full-time at the first day of employment.

Sick day bank: Another unusual benefit is that employees may donate a portion of their unused paid sick days to other employees. Sick days accumulate over the years, but employees may not save more than five months worth. Rather than lose sick days in excess of that amount, staffers may choose to place some into a general pool or dedicate them to an ill person who has requested help. Sick time can even be donated to employees on other campuses.

Adjustments to the physical work environment: Requests for modifications to the workspace are handled case by case. An IT worker who was hearing impaired received a strobe light in her office to warn her of fire, in case she didn’t hear the fire alarm. At Lehman College, two people work at standing desks. Some professors who prefer to sit while teaching have been given desks, chairs, and rooms that best allow them to be heard by their students. Employees with impaired sight have received special computer screens and keyboards.  A deaf adjunct professor communicates with students through a sign language interpreter in his classroom.

Flexible work arrangements: The university allows professors to work from colleges closer to their homes during emergencies like SuperStorm Sandy. A library clerk who dealt with a serious situation of domestic abuse was given an office in a new building and a different work schedule so that the abuser could not track her patterns. Campus safety kept a photo of the abuser so that they would recognize him. Other changes to employees’ work locations and schedules have been made to accommodate special situations. A public safety officer whose son had a medical condition had her hours adjusted so she could be with her son during his treatments. A development officer with a medical condition that made it hard for her to commute was permitted to work from home during her recovery.