Leave Share FAQ University Regulation R04.06.130(D)
Q. What is Leave Share?
A. The leave share program is established to allow employees to voluntarily transfer hours from their unused sick leave balance to the sick leave balance of an employee with a catastrophic medical event.
Q. How do I request to receive donated sick leave hours?
A. You must complete a leave share program temporary disability leave transfer request form: http://www.alaska.edu/files/hr/downloads/350-lvs.pdf. Once approved, it is your responsibility to solicit donations for leave share. Human Resources will assist by asking for donations from terminating employees and when necessary the regional personnel director will issue a systemwide request for sick leave donations on behalf of the leave recipient.
Q. Is the University of Alaska Leave Share Program considered a leave bank?
A. No. Those on approved leave share request will have hours transferred from donor(s) to recipient(s) on an as needed basis by pay period.
Q. Is there a limit to how many hours I can donate?
A. No. Although the donation form indicates “to a maximum of 80 hours per donation form” you may complete as many forms as you like.
Q. If am going to be terminating my employment soon may I donate all my unused sick leave?
A. You may complete leave share donation forms (for a maximum of 80 hours per form) as a blank donation. However since these hours are not banked only those hours needed while you are still actively employed may be used. Once an employee terminates their sick leave balances are zeroed out.
Q. Why can't leave share be made available for childbirth?
A. Natural childbirth is considered parental leave. Per regulation R04.06.130(D). Leave share program is established to allow employees to voluntarily transfer hours from their unused sick leave balance to the sick leave balance of an employee with a catastrophic medical event
Q. If I donate to the leave share program, will I be notified when my leave is used?
A. No. The only way you will know if your leave has been used is by viewing your pay stub detail, any donated hours will be notated as sick leave balance adjustment under non cash earnings.
Q. If FML allows for up to 720 hours, why does leave share only allow 520 hours? A. The leave share donation program was designed as a short-term disability program. 520 hours equates to 65 working days (full-time) which is approximately 90 calendar days. The university's disability plan will help to replace lost income from serious disabilities that last longer than 90 days
Q. Can I find out who donated hours to me so I can thank them?
A. No. Both the donor and recipient names are kept confidential.
Q. Why can't leave share be approved for intermittent FML?
A. In order to meet the qualifying event “absence from work by the employee for a period of time that extends 10 working days in excess of all accrued leave balances”. An employee working intermittently will not meet this qualifying event.
Q. Is there a minimum sick leave balance required to be maintained when donating sick leave?
A. No. Unlike annual leave cash-in there is no requirement for a minimal number of hours be retained by the donor. You are cautioned against depleting your sick leave balance in case of any unforeseen future events in which you may need to use your accumulated sick leave.
Q. Do have to use up my A/L before I can be eligible for leave share donations?
A. Yes. Leave share participation requires an absence from work by the employee for a period of time that extends 10 working days in excess of all accrued leave balances. All leave balances include sick leave, annual leave and personal holiday for non-exempt employees.
Q. Why do I have to be on family medical leave to qualify for leave share?
A. Only those absences that qualify for Family Medical Leave (FML) are leave share eligible.