40.023:  Organ Donation Leave

Status:	Approved on February 28, 2005	Signatures and dates on archival copy
Effective:	when approved
Initiated by:	James E. Kemper Assistant Vice President for Administration for Human Resources
Reviewed by:	Herman ("Butch") Hill, Chair Policy and Procedure Review Committee
Endorsed by:	Larry Corrigan Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration
Approved by:	Kathy Krendl Interim Provost

Purpose

This policy serves to establish University policy and procedures for organ donation leave for Classified staff and Presidential Appointees, both Administrative and Faculty, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code, § 124.139.

Policy

Ohio University will grant an organ donation leave with pay to all full-time permanent Classified staff, and Presidential Appointees, both Administrative and Faculty. For Faculty Presidential Appointees, this policy applies only to the extent that no contrary provision is included in the Faculty Handbook. The University supports a work environment that offers solutions to complex issues employees face in balancing their work, family, and personal commitments or health and medical concerns. This Policy provides leave for organ donation as described in the Procedures section, below.

Procedures

I.  Organ Donation Leave

A.  Application

When organ donation leave is anticipated, verbal notice should be given as far in advance as possible, followed by written documentation to include a Request for Organ Donation Leave, indicating hours and dates of leave and including supporting medical certification from an appropriate health care provider.

B.  Eligibility

1. All full-time employees who donate an adult kidney or any portion of an adult liver shall receive up to two hundred and forty (240) hours of leave with pay during each calendar year to use during those hours when the employee is absent from work due to the employee's donation.

2. All full-time employees who donate adult bone marrow shall receive up to fifty-six (56) hours of leave with pay during each calendar year to use during those hours when the employee is absent from work due to the employee's donation.

3. The duration of leave for other types of organ donations will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the Assistant Vice President for Administration for Human Resources, who will consult competent medical authority.

C.  Use

1. Organ Donation leave shall be exhausted prior to using any sick leave or vacation leave to continue recuperation from the organ donation.

2. Organ Donation leave shall run concurently with other University leave programs (e.g., Family Medical Leave). Organ docation could be considered a serious health condition under the Family Medical Leave Act, and therefore, providing the employee met the other Famiily Medical Leave requirements, would be covered under the Act.

3. The employee using such organ donation leave shall be compensated at the employee's regular rate of pay for those regular work hours during which the employee is absent from work.

II.  Cancellation of Leave

If it becomes apparent that the leave of absence is not actually being used for the specific reason it was requested and granted, the leave may be canceled by the granting authority.

III.  Recovery of Improperly Paid Benefits

The university may use all necessary steps to recover organ donation leave benefits paid in error or paid as a result of fraud, including adjustments to an employee's pay. An employee who knowingly engages in fraud may be subject to discipline.

Reviewers

Proposed revisions of this policy should be reviewed by:

1. Policy and Procedure Review Committee

2. Administrative Senate

3. Faculty Senate

4. Classified Senate

Forms

The following forms are specific to this policy:

1. The Request for Organ Donation Leave is available from University Human Resources.

Copyright © 2005 Ohio University. All Rights Reserved.

Dick Piccard revised this file (http://www.ohiou.edu/policy/40-023.html) on March 3, 2005.

Please E-mail any comments or suggestions to "policy@ohio.edu".