Chapter 19: Time Off for Blood, Plasma, Organ, or Bone Marrow Donation
19.1 Policy Statement
The University of Texas at El Paso provides paid leave in accordance with state law for employees who are blood, plasma, organ or bone marrow donors.
19.2 Scope
This policy applies to all employees of The University of Texas at El Paso.
19.3 Blood or Plasma Donors
An employee receives sufficient time off, typically not to exceed 2 (two hours), without a deduction in salary or accrued leave, to donate blood or plasma.
An employee must obtain prior approval from the supervisor before taking time off to serve as a blood or plasma donor.
On returning to work after taking time off under this policy, an employee shall provide the supervisor with proof that the employee donated blood during the time off. A copy of the documentation must be forwarded to the Office of Human Resources. If the employee fails to provide proof that the employee donated blood or plasma during the time off, the employee’s department shall deduct the period for which the employee was granted time off from the employee's salary or accrued leave, whichever the employee chooses.
An employee may receive time off under this section not more than four (4) times in a fiscal year.
19.4 Organ or Bone Marrow Donors
An employee is entitled to a leave of absence without a deduction in salary for the time necessary to permit the employee to serve as a bone marrow or organ donor.
An employee must provide advance notification and documentation to the supervisor before taking a leave of absence to serve as a bone marrow or organ donor. A copy of the documentation must be forwarded to the Office of Human Resources
The leave of absence provided by this section may not exceed:
- five (5) working days in a fiscal year to serve as a bone marrow donor; or
- thirty (30) working days in a fiscal year to serve as an organ donor.
19.5 Employee Responsibilities
An employee must obtain prior approval from the supervisor prior to taking time off under this policy. The supervisory approval and all supporting documents for blood, plasma, organ or bone marrow donations must be forwarded to the Office of Human Resources
19.6 Supervisor Responsibilities
The supervisor reviews and approves requests for leave under this policy. For those employees who are required to complete time reports, the supervisor must verify that the employee has accurately recorded the leave before approving the time report.
19.7 Delegation of Authority
Authority is hereby delegated to the department head or designee to review and approve requests for leave under this policy.