[About Local 32035] [Local Leaders] [Local Staff] [Unit Leaders] [Local Bylaws & Governance] [Contracts] [Newsroom]
[Need a Union?] [Labor Calendar] [Discussion Area] [Related Sites] [Home Page]

BNA Newspaper Guild Sick Leave Bank

Guidelines and Procedures

Since its inception in 1991, the BNA Newspaper Guild Sick Leave Bank has been a valuable benefit for BNA employees. Over the years, many individuals coping with serious illness or hardship situations have benefitted from the generosity of their fellow workers through the Leave Bank.

The Sick Leave Bank is administered by the Sick Leave Bank Committee with some logistical support by the Payroll Office. Unlike other committees at BNA which are run jointly by the Guild and BNA management, the Sick Leave Bank Committee is comprised solely of volunteer union members appointed by the bargaining unit chair. Questions or concerns about the program should be directed to a member of the committee or a guild officer. The current members of the committee are:

Robert Teachout, chair x5229
Tony Baxter x7530
Vicky Baxter x1546
Gwen Holmes x7499
Shawna Menefee (Rockville) x6743

 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?

Only members of the bargaining unit may participate in the Sick Leave Bank—management, confidential employees, and sales representatives are excluded. The names of donors and recipients are kept confidential.

 

HOW DO I DONATE?

Anyone wishing to donate leave may give up to six (6) weeks of annual leave during a year. To donate leave, copy the Transfer of Leave Request form below and return it to a member of the Sick Leave Bank Committee. A person may designate an individual on whose behalf leave is being donated. At least half the amount thus donated will be used to help the designated recipient, up to the maximum amount permitted by the Leave Bank policy as awarded by the Leave Bank Committee. Only annual leave may be donated. All donations are final and cannot be refunded.

 

TRANSFER OF LEAVE REQUEST I hereby authorize ____ hours of annual leave to be reduced from my annual leave* balance and contributed to the Sick Leave Bank pool. Donor’s Name __________________________________ Employee No. _________ (please print) Donor’s Signature_____________________________________ Date ___________ Please Return This Form To A Member Of The Sick Leave Bank Committee *Only annual leave may be donated. All donations are final and nonrefundable.

 

 

HOW DO I APPLY FOR LEAVE FROM THE SICK LEAVE BANK?

An employee who wishes to receive leave from the Leave Bank, or a steward acting on an employee’s behalf, must fill out an application form describing his or her circumstances based on the eligibility criteria listed below. The form is available from, and should be submitted to, any member of the Sick Leave Bank Committee. Leave will be allocated according to need on a first-come, first-served basis.

To be eligible to receive leave from the Leave Bank, the requestor:

· Must have exhausted any remaining sick, annual, and personal leave.
· May not be eligible for workers’ compensation.
· May not be receiving payments from the BNA disability plan.
· Must show need due to either:
Serious illness or medical emergency involving the employee, a spouse or domestic partner, child, parent, or other close relative; or
Ongoing crisis or hardship involving the employee, a spouse or domestic partner, child, parent, or other close relative for whom the employee takes responsibility (for example, to care for a child with disabilities or an elderly family member with Alzheimer’s disease).

A signed and dated note from a medical provider (if applicable) verifying the medical condition should also be attached to the application form.

Leave from the Bank is not intended for use by an employee who wishes to take additional leave to care for a newborn or adopted child unless other circumstances exist, such as a serious medical condition affecting the mother or child. Because leave from the bank is meant to provide assistance for emergencies and hardship, no person will be granted more leave than is needed to replace lost work time.

 

HOW DOES THE LEAVE BANK COMMITTEE DETERMINE WHO WILL RECEIVE LEAVE AND HOW MUCH LEAVE TO GRANT?

Based solely on the criteria listed above, the Guild Sick Leave Bank Committee will determine an applicant’s eligibility for leave from the Leave Bank.

The amount of leave granted under the program will depend on the severity of the applicant’s need and the demands on the Leave Bank at the time the request is made. In no case will an employee be granted more than four (4) weeks of leave in a calendar year (150 hours). An employee who has received less than the maximum permitted leave from the Leave Bank may request more leave in the event his or her circumstances worsen or continue beyond what was initially anticipated.

 

WHEN AND HOW WILL A PERSON BE INFORMED OF THE COMMITTEE’S DECISION?

The Committee will make a decision within one week after an employee submits an application for assistance. An employee will be informed in writing via in-house mail or e-mail of the Committee’s decision. In the case of a denial, the Committee will describe the reasons for the denial in writing. An applicant who has been denied leave from the Sick Leave Bank remains eligible to submit another request for leave at a later time.

 

HOW DOES A PERSON USE LEAVE CREDITED FROM THE LEAVE BANK?

Once a person is approved to receive leave from the Sick Leave Bank, he or she need do nothing further. A member of the Leave Bank Committee will contact the employee’s supervisor with instructions on how to fill out the employee’s time sheet. A Committee member also will take the necessary steps to inform the Payroll Department of the transfer of leave.

IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS VALUABLE GUILD BENEFIT PLEASE CONTACT YOUR GUILD STEWARD OR A MEMBER OF THE SICK LEAVE BANK COMMITTEE.