Blood Donation Leave

Legislation enacted in August 2022 (Chapter 530 Laws of 2022) establishes a new Section 159-d of the Civil Service Law, to authorize paid leave for employees to donate blood on an annual basis.

Employees are entitled to a leave of absence with pay for up to 4 hours per calendar year. This leave can be used intermittently. Any unused leave will expire on the last day of each calendar year

The leave allowance for employees provides:

1) to provide up to 4 hours of paid leave (may be used intermittently until the entitlement is exhausted), per calendar year, to donate blood at an off-premises location;

or

2) to provide up to 4 hours of paid leave for employees to donate blood, per calendar year, which includes the opportunity to donate blood at a time and place set by the employer, including blood drives at the place of employment, at least 2 times per year.

When completing time records, employees should report time for this allowance as Non-Chargeable Leave with the Non-Chargeable Leave Type of Blood Donation. In addition, written documentation indicating that the employees absence was for the purpose of donating blood must be submitted to the Benefits and Payroll Office.

Whether the leave is used for donation at an off-premises donation site, at the place of employment or both, an employee may only receive a maximum of 4 hours of paid leave under Civil Service Law 159-d and Labor Law 202-j. Employees may continue to request time off for additional blood donations using appropriate accrued leave.

Employees who donate blood outside of their regular work schedule, do so on their own time. For example, employees are not granted compensatory time off for blood donations that occur on pass days or holidays.

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