IS - 2100 Catastrophic Leave Donation	Human Resources Release Date: 5/14/07
Policy

CNM Board Policy 

Employee Handbook 8.20, Catastrophic Leave Donation Program (CLDP) 

Administrative Directive

Introduction

The Catastrophic Leave Donation Program (CLDP) permits salary and benefits continuation for employees who have exhausted all paid leave due to their own serious illness or injury.  The employee's salary and benefit continuation is achieved through donations of annual or personal leave hours from other CNM employee's on a voluntary basis.

1. Catastrophic Illness Definition

Catastrophic illness/injury is one that has incapacitated an employee from performing normal work.  Chronic illnesses or injuries, which result in intermittent absences from work, may be considered catastrophic (for example:  cancer, AIDS, major surgery, etc.).  Such chronic illnesses or injuries must be considered both long term in nature and require long-term recuperation periods.

Any absence to receive multiple treatments (including any period of recovery) by, or referral by, a licensed health care provider for a condition that likely would result in incapacity of more than three consecutive days if left untreated (for example:  chemotherapy, physical therapy, dialysis, etc.) may be considered a catastrophic illness/injury.

Conditions which are short term in nature (for example:  flu, measles, common illnesses, common injuries, etc.) are not deemed catastrophic.

Where the provisions of the CLDP are in conflict with the collective bargaining agreements, the collective bargaining agreements shall take precedence.

2. Eligibility

2.1  In order for program recipients to receive donated hours they must:

•           be a CNM employee who accrues annual and/or personal leave

•           have requested donated leave due to catastrophic illness or injury

•           have written verification of catastrophic illness/injury from a licensed medical practitioner

•           have exhausted all paid leave earned pursuant to the applicable personnel policies covering annual leave, personal leave and/or sick leave

•           not receive an amount greater than his/her regular take home pay if receiving donated hours to make up the difference between payment received for long-term disability insurance or worker’s compensation

2.2  Eligibility ends when the employee:

•           returns to full-time work

•           goes on state or federal support, for example, disability payments or social security

•           has used 1,040 hours of CLDP time

•           is terminated