Effective Sunday, Mar. 18, the law covering leave for breast and prostate cancer screening will be amended. Previously, leave was only available for breast and prostate cancer screening. This new amendment now allows for cancer screening as well.
Cancer Screening
NYS Civil Service Law Section 159 has been amended to allow employees to take up to four hours of paid leave in a calendar year for “cancer screening,” provided that the screening is performed during regular work hours. The four work hours include travel time. The leave is not cumulative and shall be deemed forfeited if not used in a particular calendar year. An absence for this purpose beyond the four hours must be charged to the employee’s annual leave accruals or without pay, if no annual leave accrual is available.
In addition, the College may require satisfactory medical documentation to verify that the employee’s absence was for the purpose of cancer screening.
Blood Donation (No Amendment)
(A) Off-premises Donation
Employees taking leave for off-premises blood donation shall be permitted at least one unpaid leave period of three (3) hours per calendar year during the employee’s regular work schedule. The leave is not cumulative and shall be deemed forfeited if not used within a particular calendar year. For employees donating blood off-premises, the College may require employees to give reasonable notice prior to the day on which the leave shall be taken, and provide satisfactory proof of the donation.
(B) On-premises or Employer-designated location
Employees are entitled to take paid leave for blood donation either on a College’s premises or a location designated by the College. The location and time shall be within a reasonable travel distance and within the normal work hours of the employee. Such a leave can be taken at least twice in any calendar year and, in addition, all employees must be allowed sufficient paid leave time to donate blood and to recover, including partaking in nourishment after donating, and to return to work.
