City Council may adopt a policy that would allow employees to donate their unused paid time off to other employees who have run out of their paid leave but need more of it due to illness or some other misfortune.

City Manager Christopher McGuire proposed the policy change based on the situation of a particular employee, and worked to develop specifics with the Human Resources Department.

All three unions have concurred with the proposal, which was introduced last month as an ordinance, and which could be adopted at council’s next meeting, according to McGuire.

Donors and recipients must have been employed by the city for at least a year.

Employees are eligible to receive donated leave time if a medical condition of the employee or an immediate family member or else a family hardship resulting from a federally declared disaster has forced the employee into extended absence from work, leading to a “substantial loss of income,” according to a policy memo.

The recipient’s identity would not be disclosed to donors.

Donations would be computed in terms of hours, without reference to the pay scale of either the donor or recipient.

If a donation is made, it must be at least four hours per calendar year, but no more than 40 hours — and no more than 50% of the donating employee’s current paid-leave balance.

Employees may not borrow against future paid leave.

Employees currently on leave of absence themselves may not donate.

Employees requesting donations must fill out a form, and their requests must be approved by HR, their department director and the city manager.

Recipients must use up all their own leave time before they can begin to use donated time.

Recipients may only use donated time in connection with the situation that led to them asking for help.

Recipients may receive a collective maximum of 480 hours (12 weeks) of donated time within a rolling 12-month period.

The new policy does not limit or extend the maximum permissible absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

The program is strictly voluntary.

Leave donation programs are becoming more popular among employers, McGuire said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.