(A) As an organization focused on the enhancement of the quality of life in the city, the city encourages its employees to participate in and support volunteer activities that improve and serve the city and the county. While the city may sponsor events throughout the year where employees may collectively volunteer during normal working hours, any full-time employee is eligible to take paid leave for a maximum of eight hours per calendar year to volunteer with a nonprofit organization or a government to participate in activities that provide an opportunity for meaningful community engagement within the city and county.
(1) Examples of activities that meet the purposes of this policy include, but are not limited to, volunteering in disaster recovery, food banks and kitchens, homeless shelters, community cleanup initiatives and involvement on a nonprofit board of directors.
(2) Examples of activities that do not meet the purposes of this policy and that will not be approved include, but are not limited to, involvement with any partisan political activity, with organizations that discriminate based on any protected class as outlined in this handbook, coaching a family member’s sports team, attending a family member’s school functions or attendance at a professional, religious or personal interest conference.
(B) An employee wishing to use the paid leave time provided by this policy will submit a Volunteer Time Off/Blood Donation Request (HR Form 07) in Appendix A to his or her supervisor. The leave request must be approved by the employee’s supervisor prior to the employee’s use of time under this policy. A supervisor will consult with the human resources officer and/or Mayor if the employee’s selected activity is questionable as meeting the purposes of this policy.
(C) An employee that has received prior approval for a request submitted under this policy will report the leave time in accordance with this handbook.
(D) An employee will be credited with leave time under this policy on January 1 of each year. A newly hired employee will not receive credit until the first day of January occurring after he or she begins employment with the city. All volunteer leave time will expire at the end of the calendar year if not used. An employee will not receive compensation for any unused volunteer activity leave time provided in this policy upon separation from employment.