Employee Presence Reliability Incentive

Updated 8.28.2026

Recent Changes

Thank you for the questions regarding this program. The following changes have been made:

• Professional leave is excluded, without a maximum.
• The term “incentive period” is used instead of “semester” to more accurately reflect the program’s six-month eligibility periods.
• Paid Parental leave is excluded. FMLA is not considered an approved leave exclusion.
• Frequently asked questions have been added based on additional questions received.

Program Overview

The Employee Presence & Reliability Incentive Program recognizes and rewards Horry County Schools employees for consistent attendance and dependability. The program is available to all eligible employees, regardless of position, department, work location, or job classification.

Consistent employee presence supports student success, continuity of instruction, strong relationships, and effective school and district operations. At the same time, Horry County Schools recognizes that employees may have legitimate and approved reasons to be away from work. This program is designed to reward reliable presence while allowing reasonable flexibility for approved leave.

Earn $200 Each Incentive Period

Employees may earn a $200 incentive during each incentive period when they:

• Achieve at least 95% presence after approved leave exclusions are applied;
• Have no unexcused absences, i.e. “no call, no show”;
• Remain in good standing with the District; and
• Meet all other program eligibility requirements.

Core Qualifying Criteria

To qualify for the incentive, an employee must meet all program requirements below.

1. Attendance Standard

The employee must achieve at least 95% presence during the incentive period after approved leave exclusions are applied. (Effective July 1, 2026.)

Any unexcused absence (no call/no show) will result in disqualification from incentive period.

An employee who voluntarily donates accrued leave to an approved District sick leave bank or leave-sharing program will not have the donated leave treated as an absence for purposes of determining incentive eligibility.

2. Approved Leave Exclusions

The following approved leave will not count against an employee when determining eligibility:

• Annual leave — up to 2 days^*
• Sick leave — up to 2 days, including leave used for the employee’s illness or the illness of an eligible family member^*
• Personal leave — up to 2 days^*
• Jury duty
• Bereavement leave
• Military leave
• Professional leave
• Paid Parental leave

^*The two-day exclusion applies separately to each eligible leave category marked above. FMLA is not considered an approved leave exclusion.

All leave must be appropriately approved and recorded in accordance with District policy.

3. Good Standing

The employee must be in good standing with the District at the time the incentive is awarded. Good standing includes meeting applicable performance, conduct, and employment expectations established by the District.

4. How Is My Presence Percentage Calculated?

For purposes of determining the 95% presence requirement, approved excluded leave is removed from the employee’s scheduled workdays before the presence percentage is calculated.

Example:

An employee has 90 scheduled workdays during the incentive period.

The employee uses 2 sick days, which are excluded under the program, and has 3 additional sick days, which count against the employee’s presence.

Scheduled workdays - 90

Excluded sick leave - 2 days

Adjusted scheduled workday - 88

Non-excluded absence days -3

Days present - 85

Presence calculation - 85 ÷ 88 = 96.6%

Result: The employee qualifies.

If, instead, the employee has 5 non-excluded absence days in addition to the 2 excluded sick days:

Adjusted scheduled workdays - 88

Days present - 83

Presence calculation - 83 ÷ 88 = 94.3%

Result: The employee does not qualify.

5. Eligibility Review

An employee who believes an attendance, leave, or employment record has been incorrectly recorded may request an eligibility review through Human Resources within 10 business days of receiving the eligibility determination.

The review is intended to correct factual or coding errors and does not waive or modify established program requirements.

Questions

Questions about this program can be sent to PresenceProgram@horrycountyschools.net.