Human Resources

4.05(1) Leave of Absence for the Purpose of Bone Marrow or Organ Donation

To allow an employee paid leave of absence for the purpose of bone marrow or organ donation in accordance with A.R.S. § 41-706.

Origination date: 09/01/2011
Revised: 04/01/2018
Reference: Arizona Revised Statute § 41-706; Arizona Board of Regents 6-811
Applicability: All University Employees

Eligibility

Any University employee is eligible for leave of absence under this policy.

Qualifying Reasons

An employee is entitled to receive a leave of absence to serve as a bone marrow donor for a bone marrow transplant or as an organ donor for an organ transplant.

Duration

Up to five work days as a bone marrow donor or up to thirty work days as an organ donor.

If the employee is eligible for Family Medical Leave of Absence, the Organ Donor Leave of Absence will run concurrently.

Pay Status

An employee who receives a leave of absence pursuant to this policy is entitled to receive base pay without interruption during the leave of absence. For the purpose of determining seniority, pay or pay advancement, or performance awards the service of the employee is considered uninterrupted by a leave of absence pursuant to this policy.

Employee Responsibilities

A request for Bone Marrow/Organ Donor Leave of Absence must be submitted following Human Resources Department procedures, providing as much notice as possible. In making this request, the employee shall provide the University with written medical verification issued by the employee’s health care provider stating that the employee is to serve as a donor, and specifying the kind of donation to be made.

Failure to follow procedures or timelines may result in the denial or delay of Bone Marrow/Organ Donor Leave of Absence.

Employees who have requested a Bone Marrow/Organ Donor Leave of Absence must provide Human Resources and their department up to date contact information (e-mail, phone and home address) for the duration of their leave of absence. In addition, they must respond to inquiries from Human Resources and their department in a timely manner.

It is the employee’s responsibility to notify Human Resources and their supervisor of the intent to return to work giving enough advance notice to reasonably facilitate planning and completion of paperwork.

Effect on Benefits

Employee benefits will continue during the period of approved Bone Marrow/Organ Donor Leave of Absence.

Return to Work

The granting of Bone Marrow/Organ Donor Leave of Absence will in most cases be followed by the employee’s return to their former or essentially equal position. The practical effect of this is that the department head should hold the employee’s regular position anticipating the employee’s return from Bone Marrow/Organ Donor Leave of Absence. However, the department head can hire a temporary replacement for the duration of the leave.

The employee will not be penalized for requesting or obtaining a leave of absence pursuant to this policy.

Failure to Return or Accept Employment

An employee will be considered to have voluntarily terminated employment if they:

• fail to return to work upon the expiration of the approved Bone Marrow/Organ Donor Leave of Absence or date agreed upon or any extension thereof; or
• fail to contact their department head prior to the end of the Bone Marrow/Organ Donor Leave of Absence to request an extension (if applicable); or
• advise the university of their intention not to return to work; or
• refuse comparable reemployment.

An employee who voluntarily terminates at the end of the Bone Marrow/Organ
Donor Leave of Absence for reasons listed above will be required to return to the university the full insurance premiums paid by the university on behalf of that employee during the period of the Bone Marrow/Organ Donor Leave of Absence.