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527 - Blood Donation Leave

Subject: Blood Donation Leave

Section: U527

Date: July, 2018

Purpose

To establish guidelines for employees to donate blood in compliance with the Illinois Employee Blood Donation Leave Act.

Who is governed by this policy

This policy applies to all staff employees, temporary employees and seasonal employees.

Policy

An employee may take up to one hour with pay, or more if approved by their supervisor, to donate or attempt to donate blood once every 56 days in accordance with appropriate medical standards established by the American Red Cross, America's Blood Centers, the American Association of Blood Banks, or other nationally recognized standards as determined by the University. Time taken for Blood Donation Leave will not be deducted from the employee’s vacation, personal holiday, or sick leave accruals.

In order to use Blood Donation Leave, the employee must request and obtain supervisory approval in advance and in accordance with the Department’s time off request procedures. (See Policy U502 Attendance (Absenteeism, Tardiness, and Job Abandonment.) The employee must request Blood Donation Leave at least two (2) days in advance and must consult with their supervisor to schedule the leave to avoid disrupting the operations of the unit.

A supervisor may require an employee to provide documentation for the requested time off. Failure to timely submit a verification statement from the donation center upon request may result in an unexcused absence and/or disciplinary action. (See Policy U703 Progressive Corrective Action.)

An employee who has a complaint or dispute about Blood Donation Leave may initiate the Employee Complaint Resolution Procedure set forth in Policy 704.

Roles and responsibilities

Governed Party Roles and Responsibilities
Employee The Employee is responsible for following the Supervisor’s time off request procedures.
Supervisor The Supervisor is responsible for setting time off request procedures, ensuring they are followed, verifying the use of time off is appropriate, and approving time off use in the time off calendar.

    Key Contacts

    Center of Expertise – Employee & Labor Relations
    elrelations@uchicago.edu
    Extension: 4-7345

    Last updated on 11/14/22