The City Council is considering a new policy that would allow city employees to donate unused paid leave to colleagues in need. The proposal, initiated by City Manager Christopher McGuire in cooperation with the Human Resources Department, is supported by all three unions. Under this proposed scheme, employees who have been with the city for at least a year would be eligible to both donate and receive leave time. Donations will be calculated in hours, independent of the income of either party. Employees are permitted to donate a minimum of four hours and a maximum of 40 hours per calendar year, based on specific criteria. The need for time off must be due to a medical condition, a family disaster, or the inability to work, causing a substantial loss of income. The consent of HR, Department Directors, and the City Manager is required for donation requests. The recipient must exhaust all of their personal leave time before utilizing donated time. The maximum leave time one can receive is 480 hours (12 weeks) within a 12-month period. The policy does not affect the norms of the Family and Medical Leave Act and is entirely voluntary.

The rise of leave donation programs among employers has been observed, according to McGuire. This proposed policy is an innovative solution for employees dealing with circumstances that require a leave of absence from work. As more employers consider adopting such policies, employees may find it helpful to understand how similar programs work in different settings. For California residents, it may be particularly useful to know how to reach an agent at EDD to discuss their personal situation. More information and assistance can be found at eddcaller.com.