Fitness Release Time is a voluntary program designed to improve the health and well-being of UT employees. The University wants to provide a supportive environment that encourages employees to adopt healthy behaviors and positive lifestyle choices, increase employee engagement, enhance employee experience, allow for positive job performance, and reduce health care and insurance costs. Your HR Director has received information about this benefit and will be working with your Dean or VP to decide if your College, School or Unit will participate in the pilot program. Employees can be granted up to 30 minutes per day, up to three days per week, during normal working hours to participate in fitness activities. Activities such as, but not limited to walking, yoga, basketball, free weights, boxing, Tai Chi, treadmill, Zumba etc.
Fitness Release Time Guidelines and FAQs
• The employee must seek pre-approval from their manager.
• The employee must submit a Fitness Activity Agreement. The agreement may remain in effect for the duration of employment in the position identified in the agreement.
• A new agreement must be completed if an employee's manager or position changes.
• The agreement may be terminated by the employee’s manager at any time.
• Managers may request documentation such as an attestation to support the request.
• Exercise may not count as work on a day in which the employee did not otherwise work.
• Supervisors and employees will be asked to complete a short survey before and during implementation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Am I eligible for Fitness Release Time?
If you have worked continuously at the university for at least six months, work 40 hours per week, and are leave-eligible, the answer is yes! You are a leave-eligible employee if you earn monthly sick time off accruals.
May I take Fitness Release Time for 30 minutes each day that I work?
Employees and their Managers will agree on schedules and will document this via a Fitness Activity Agreement. Fitness Release Time is available for up to three days per week and up to 30 minutes each of those days.
How often do I need to complete a Fitness Activity Agreement?
A new agreement must be completed if your manager or your position changes. You and your manager may choose to terminate the agreement at any time.
Under what circumstances can my manager change my Fitness Activity Agreement?
Fitness Release Time may not interfere with the workflow and operation of the employee’s department and your manager may ask you to adjust accordingly. Additionally, it is expected that employees utilizing Fitness Release Time are in good standing with regard to performance and conduct. If they are not, managers may change or end the agreement until the employee has demonstrated improvement.
Do I have to be specific with my manager about what type of exercise I will be doing on a given day?
Managers may define eligible physical exercise activities for employees to choose from. They may also ask employees for attestations of participation.
Is Fitness Release Time designed to shorten the workday?
No. It is intended to be used during an employee’s regular workday. The decision of whether to allow an employee to use Fitness Release Time at the beginning or end of a workday rests with the manager.
Does Fitness Release Time accrue? For example, if I am too busy to use it for two days during the week, may I then roll it over and take a total of 1.5 hours on the third day?
No. Fitness Release Time is paid time that does not have to be made up, cannot be accrued, and is documented as work time on timesheets.
Can Fitness Release Time be used for any health and wellness-related activity?
Fitness Release Time is to be used for exercise activities designed to improve health and well-being. Managers may choose to define appropriate activities to choose from. For example: walking, yoga, basketball, free weights, or Tai Chi. The World Health Organization defines physical activity as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure.
If I work remotely, may I use Fitness Release Time?
Your manager may approve Fitness Release Time for an employee who works remotely.
If I injure myself while using Fitness Release Time during my workday, will it be covered by Workers Compensation Insurance (WCI)?
No. WCI covers employees who are injured while in the course and scope of their duties.
May I use Fitness Release Time to attend medical appointments off-campus?
No, as that is not its intent. Sick leave would be the most appropriate time off category for those purposes. If sick leave is not available, then vacation or compensatory time are options.
What forms besides the Fitness Activity Agreement are employees expected to complete as part of the Fitness Release Time program?
Employees and managers will be asked to complete surveys periodically. Survey results will drive improvements in the Fitness Release Time program.
How do I enter Fitness Release Time in Workday?
Fitness Release Time is paid time; it does not have to be made up, and it cannot be accrued. Employees using the time clock system will be required to enter the appropriate task code for their leave.
Can I use Fitness Release Time to accrue overtime or state compensatory time?
No. Fitness Release Time will not be counted toward Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime or state compensatory time.
I am a student employee, am I eligible for Fitness Release Time?
No, only leave-eligible employees are eligible for Fitness Release Time.