Shared Leave
UW Shared Leave
Dear Fellow UW Employees and Fellow Employees of the State of Washington,
I am a Washington State Employee currently a Windows Systems Administrator for an interdisciplinary center for Population Research at the University of Washington called "The Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology" (CSDE).
I am due to go on FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) status as of April 7th due to a medical condition which has finally incapacitated me to the point where I am unable to currently function in my duties to my full capabilities. I am undergoing medical evaluations, treatment, and am in severe need of time put my health back in order. I take my work very seriously and I set a high standard for myself and my performance. At this time I am physically and mentally unable to meet the expectations I have set for myself and my co-workers nor serve the staff, faculty, affiliates and students of my department in the manner they deserve and expect.
FMLA is a wonderful program but the catch is that it is an unpaid leave status and here is where I need your help. Due to my health, my vacation leave, sick leave and personal holiday have all been depleted. So I have been directed to use the Shared Leave Program which is a program that allows any classified or pro-staff employee working for the State of Washington (not just the UW) to donate portions of their of their various leave into a "bank" to cover my salary for up to a 12 week period. Faculty personnel unfortunately are not eligible to donate but can certainly forward this message to eligible staff within their circles.
I must say that it is very uncomfortable and a bit embarrassing for me to solicit monetary donations from large groups of people, most of which I don't know nor have ever met, but regardless, this task has been left up to me and I have no other choice than solicit this letter. I do know as State Employees we are a team and teams support each other in times of need and that is a comforting thought. I myself in the past at a previous institution have donated leave so I know how important it really can be to someone in need. Without these donations I have will have no income to pay my living expenses, maintain my medical care nor my benefits until the time I can return to work (which is a maximum of 12 weeks of leave).
If you would be interested in making a donation to my share leave bank it would be greatly appreciated. If it is more appropriate to forward this request to different person in your department who handles these matters I sincerely ask that would do that for me. Additionally, if this request could be forwarded to other staff members within your department via a departmental mailing list or other method you use to communicate with your group as a whole so that others can be made aware and possibly participate, that would be greatly appreciated above all. The more people who see the request, the higher chance I will have a fully charged shared leave bank balance and no worry during a time when I am to be resting, recuperating, receiving treatment and maintaining the lowest stress level possible. Also do note any unused shared leave will be returned to the appropriate donor should it not be used.
The process is fairly simple.
2. Submit the form to your supervisor for completion and forwarding to the Human Resources Operations Office that serves your unit before or during the period of leave - preferably before if possible but after is perfectly acceptable as well. My leave begins April 7th.
3. Once the donation has been approved by your unit's Human Resources Operations Office, you, your supervisor, and your unit's timekeeper will receive written approval of the donation.
Any additional questions can also be answered by my unit's HR department:
University of Washington Human Resources
Upper Campus Operations
Bloedel Hall, Lower Level
206-543-2354 (v) 206-685-0636 (fax)
I love my job. My work is a very important part of my life that I enjoy very much but my health and well being must come first and thus I have no choice at this time but to choose this route temporarily.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and if you choose to make a donation please accept my sincere thanks and gratitude in advance.
Respectfully yours, Erich Von Schiller (Posted March 18, 2008)
Valerie Nagle, I work in the Purchasing Department. I am asking for shared leave to help with my mother. My mother's doctor has given her the diagnosis that her condition is terminal. They have also indicated that it is best for her to have all of the help she needs from family at this time. (Posted March 18, 2008)
Zebib Negash, a Patient Services Specialist 2 at Northgate Executive Center II, is currently in need of shared leave donations. Zebib is 28 weeks pregnant and on bed rest. Her due date isn't until April 22nd, doctors are taking one week at a time. Any time that you can share would be appreciated. (Posted January 18, 2008)
This is to request your office to kindly help Lucila C. Bella, Histo. Technician II of Gastroenterology, to acquire donated vacation or sick leave hours while she is undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. She will need more shared leave hours due to medical leave extension as required by her oncologist which will run until end of April or May 2008. If you have any questions regarding this request in behalf of the employee, who is my sister, please let me know. Thank you for your kindness. Melanie Paredes, Department of Radiology (Posted January 17, 2007)
Barbara Schielmann in the Travel Office has been approved to receive shared leave due to the fact that she will be going through a second knee surgery in mid-January. If you are able to donate some time please fill out the top portion of the Shared Leave Donation form and route it to Teresa Crisostomo, Box 351117. (Posted January 17, 2008)
Lisa Hairston, a dental assistant at the UW School of Dentistry, is currently in need of shared leave donations. Lisa recently underwent a kidney transplant. She is doing well but is expected to be out of work for at least two months during her recovery. - Thank you, Helen Valentine (Posted December 19, 2007)
Cynthia Lee, a research tech in Dave Parichy's lab has been on medical leave since late April and exhausted all of her accrued sick and vacation leave as of October 3. She is able to return to work this month, but needs some coverage for October and November to keep her benefits active and cover living expenses.
Shared leave is a program under which employees may donate accrued annual leave, sick leave or personal holiday. Donors may donate four or more hours as long as they maintain an annual leave balance of 10 days or a sick leave balance of 176 hours.
Forms for making a donation or a shared leave request and more information are available at:
http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/polproc/leave/shared-leave.html.
Donations are deducted directly from the budget that pays the donor, so PI budget approval is required to complete the donation. Thanks! - Karen (Posted December 10, 1007)
My name is
Diana Rodriguez, I work as a Patient Representative in Financial Counseling. I had jaw surgery on Aug 27 and could not return until 10/15/07 because of complications from my surgery.
I had to take more time off from work. I used all of the leave that I had and I ended up having to go 5 weeks of leave without pay. I am hoping that I could get some time donated to me to assist with my loss of income during this event. (Posted November 8, 2007)
Nitikka Hoyer is in need of shared leave to assist her financially during her maternity leave. She was a fairly new employee and did not have enough time on the books to cover her leave. Any assistance from member would be most appreciated. Mom and baby are doing fine. (Posted November 8, 2007)
My name is
Cynthia McKinney, I work for the PFS Dept as a PSS 2 in FCC. I have just been approved for shared leave. I have a chronic pain issue, 5 herniated discs in my neck and degenerative joint arthritis due to several auto accidents over the last few years. I have been on intermittent FMLA for the last few month due to this. I have used all of my sick and annual leave so I am in need of shared leave. Thanks to all of you who make this possible for folks like me. - Cynthia (Posted October 25, 2007)
Here's how you can donate
- Get posted. Email Sofia Gonzalez at sgonzalez@seiu925.org to request posting on the union web page. See the posts above for examples of the kind of information that might be useful to include. Shared leave postings are open to members of Local 925 who work for the University of Washington.
- Sofia will e-mail you a link to this page.
- Recruit a friend. Ask a co-worker to serve as your advocate. Pick someone who knows you, knows your work and will be an effective advocate for you. That person can circulate your request by e-mail or in person. If you've recently worked in another department, consider asking someone there to circulate your request as well.
Learn MoreShared Leave Expanded:
March 2004--Shared leave can now be donated to state employees who would have to take leave without pay when called to duty in the
uniformed services of the United States. This is in addition to the donation of shared leave to state employees that is allowed when an employee would have to take leave without pay or leave state employment because of a personal a serious health condition, or because the employee has a family or household member with a serious health condition. An employee who receives a shared leave donation for either military service or because of a health condition must use all eligible paid leave before the donated shared leave hours may be used.
The amount of sick leave that may be donated as shared leave is no longer limited, except that the donating employee must retain a balance of 176 hours of sick leave after the donation is made. Before the change in law, an employee was limited to donating a maximum of 6 days (48 hours) of sick leave as shared leave in a 12-month period, and the employee had to retain a balance of at least 480 hours of sick leave.
How to Donate Leave
The shared leave program covers WPRB and Contract Classified Staff, Professional Staff Employees and Librarians at the University of Washington. This includes the members of the SEIU Local 925 bargaining units at the University.
The purpose of the Washington State Shared Leave Program is to permit state employees to aid another state employee who is suffering from or has a relative or household member who is suffering from an extraordinary or severe illness or injury.
A minimum of four vacation hours must be contributed.
The donor must maintain a minimum balance equivalent to ten workdays after donation (80 hours for full-time, prorated for part-time).
Sick Leave may be donated to a maximum of six days (48 hours for full-time, prorated for part-time). A minimum of four sick leave hours must be contributed. The donating employee's sick leave balance may not drop below 480 hours.
Questions regarding the Shared Leave Program should be directed to your department.
The Operations Manual, D 45.10 contains information about the Shared Leave Program. The departments should have the shared leave forms.
If they do not have the forms, they can be purchased by the departments from Stores