University of Tennessee to offer employees paid leave

TSEA January 21, 2020 Comments Off on University of Tennessee to offer employees paid leave
University of Tennessee to offer employees paid leave

A new leave policy will allow the University of Tennessee employees paid time off for organ donation or to donate bone marrow effective March 1, 2020.

According to the University’s press release, the Laura McGinnis Policy on Organ Donation is named after UT Institute of Agriculture employee Frankie McGinnis’ daughter. She passed away after experiencing complications from an organ donation.

“We hope this policy will honor Ms. McGinnis’ daughter and better equip our employees to make this selfless donation,” Interim President Randy Boyd said in the news release.

The policy offers eligible faculty and staff:

–Up to six weeks of paid time off to donate a body organ
–Up to one week of paid time off to donate bone marrow
–Leave may be taken in one continuous period or in smaller increments for any medical donation-related reasons

In addition, a taskforce has been created by the University to make recommendations on a policy that will provide 12 weeks of paid family leave for eligible faculty and staff. The University plans to have the policy in place by July 1.

The paid family leave announcement comes after Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order, which provides 12 weeks of paid family leave for state employees. The order did not include higher education. However, the “UT System had been researching an expansion of parental and family leave and how it could be implemented in an academic setting.”

“We applaud the governor’s leadership in demonstrating the tremendous importance of family,” Boyd said in the news release. “I hope that these policies portray our commitment to the support of our employees’ families.”

To read the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s press release, click here.