(a) Purpose. The intent of the leave donation policy is to allow employees of Municipality of Groveport to voluntarily provide assistance to their co-workers (other employees of the Municipality) who are in critical need of leave due to an extended illness or injury of the employee.
(b) Definitions. For the purpose of this policy the following shall apply:
(1) Recipient. The employee in need of and approved to receive donated leave.
(2) Donor. The employee volunteering to donate leave.
(3) Serious health condition. An illness, injury, impairment, or physical/mental condition that involves a period of incapacity or treatment that requires absence from employment and involves care by a health care provider. Serious health condition also includes continuing treatment of chronic or long-termed incurable conditions and prenatal care.
(c) Policy. Employees of the Municipality may donate sick leave to a fellow employee who is otherwise eligible to accrue and use paid leave. The intent of the leave donation program is to allow employees to voluntarily provide assistance to their co-workers who are in critical need of leave due to an extended serious health condition of the employee.
(d) Hours Donated. Any hours donated shall be at a rate of pay equal to that of the donor.
(e) Receiving Leave. Any hours received shall be at a rate of pay equal to that of the recipient. An employee may receive donated leave up to the number of hours the employee is normally scheduled to work each pay period (the equivalent of the employee's normal biweekly earnings), if the employee to receive donated leave has a serious health condition and the employee:
(1) Has no accrued paid leave, or an insufficient amount of paid leave; and
(2) Has completed his or her new hire probationary period; and
(3) Has already applied for any paid leave, Workers' Compensation, or other benefits program for which the employee is eligible; and
(4) Has not been disciplined for the improper use of sick leave during the past twelve (12) month period; and
(5) Has provided acceptable written verification that a serious health condition exists; and
(6) Agrees to accept the leave under the terms of this policy and completes an "Application to Receive Donated Leave" form.
(f) Donating Leave. A donor may donate leave if he or she:
(1) Voluntarily elects to donate leave and does so with the understanding that donated leave will not be returned; and
(2) Donates a minimum of eight (8) hours; and
(3) Donates up to a maximum of forty (40) hours; and
(4) Carries a balance of at least 240 hours of accrued sick leave after the donation; and
(5) Completes an "Application to Donate Leave" form.
(g) Administration. The leave donation program shall be administered on a pay period to pay period basis. The Employer shall review the Application to Receive Donated Leave and the Application to Donate Leave to assure compliance with subsections (e) and (f) of this policy. Donations of leave will be recorded in the order of their submission, and will not be considered actually donated nor be deducted from the donor's balance or credited to the recipient's balance until the pay period such leave is actually used. Employees using donated leave shall be considered in active pay status and shall accrue leave and be entitled to any benefits to which they would otherwise be entitled. Vacation, Compensatory time and sick leave accrued by an employee while using donated leave shall be used, if necessary, in the following pay period before additional donated leave may be received. Donated leave shall never be converted into a cash benefit. The Employer shall maintain records that are necessary for the administration of this program. The Employer reserves the right to decide all questions or issues related to the donation program. The Employer also reserves the right to discontinue the program at any time.
(h) Certification. Employees who wish to donate leave shall certify:
(1) The name of the employee for whom the donated leave is intended; and
(2) The number of hours to be donated; and
(3) That the leave is donated voluntarily and the employee understands that it will not be returned.
(i) Confidentiality. The Municipality shall ensure that no employees are forced to donate leave. The Municipality shall respect an employee's right to privacy; however, the Employer may, with the permission of the employee who is in need of leave, inform employees of their co-worker's critical need for leave donations from employees. The donation of leave shall occur on a strictly confidential and voluntary basis.
(j) Applications. An employee wishing to donate or receive donated leave should request the appropriate application from the Administrator or designee.
(Ord. 19-008. Passed 3-25-19.)