Federal Employees-Leave bank?

[Anonymous]

Can someone break this down for me? I would like to participate because I have a friend in need of leave. However, if you don't have a specific person in mind, why do people participate? Is it like insurance in case something bad happens to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone break this down for me? I would like to participate because I have a friend in need of leave. However, if you don't have a specific person in mind, why do people participate? Is it like insurance in case something bad happens to you?

yes. It is like disability insurance in some ways. It can also be used as a directed donation of leave if the beneficiary has been approved as a directed leave recipient.

[Anonymous]

What's a leave bank? Are you referring to leave donation program? In that case, the person who needs the leave has to get proper docs and register (to get his/her name on the list). The donors can pick the name from the list.

[Anonymous]

I think it takes the place of short term disability. I REALLY like the leave banks. My Department (DOI) doesn't offer it and instead you have to have them send out emails to everyone requesting leave if you have an emergency and run out. I get several requests a week for leave

My DH has a leave bank at his department and he donates a day of annual leave a year to it. A much better run system.

[Anonymous]

My agency does not have a leave bank. You have to apply for a voluntary leave program and then ask people personally for donations, which is awkward

[Anonymous]

Here's the information on OPM
http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/leave-administration/fact-sheets/voluntary-leave-transfer-program/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My agency does not have a leave bank. You have to apply for a voluntary leave program and then ask people personally for donations, which is awkward

And sad! At my previous bureau I would get 3-4 requests a week for people begging for donations for cancer, chemo, child's death, transplants, etc. It was honestly depressing and would really get me down. One person was hit crossing the road in front of work even and I thought of that for weeks. There was no way I could donate to everyone. I had to stop opening them because it got me so upset. Wish work would offer short term disability or a leave bank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone break this down for me? I would like to participate because I have a friend in need of leave. However, if you don't have a specific person in mind, why do people participate? Is it like insurance in case something bad happens to you?

At my agency, if you don't participate (i.e. sign up and donate 1 pay period worth of leave) then you can't apply for leave from the leave bank if you need it. I want to be covered, so I donate. I will be perfectly happy if I donate that leave every year and never need to tap into the bank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My agency does not have a leave bank. You have to apply for a voluntary leave program and then ask people personally for donations, which is awkward

And sad! At my previous bureau I would get 3-4 requests a week for people begging for donations for cancer, chemo, child's death, transplants, etc. It was honestly depressing and would really get me down. One person was hit crossing the road in front of work even and I thought of that for weeks. There was no way I could donate to everyone. I had to stop opening them because it got me so upset. Wish work would offer short term disability or a leave bank.

I don't understand, we have short term disability that we can purchase outside of work as well as long-term disability insurance. Did these people just not pay for it?

[Anonymous]

the disability insurance market for feds is pretty limited, but in any case you are free not to participate in a leave bank/donation program if you don't want to.

[Anonymous]

I hate the idea of leave banks. These burdens should be on the company as the cost of doing business with humans, not on coworkers of the ill (or grieving.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My agency does not have a leave bank. You have to apply for a voluntary leave program and then ask people personally for donations, which is awkward

And sad! At my previous bureau I would get 3-4 requests a week for people begging for donations for cancer, chemo, child's death, transplants, etc. It was honestly depressing and would really get me down. One person was hit crossing the road in front of work even and I thought of that for weeks. There was no way I could donate to everyone. I had to stop opening them because it got me so upset. Wish work would offer short term disability or a leave bank.

I don't understand, we have short term disability that we can purchase outside of work as well as long-term disability insurance. Did these people just not pay for it?

STD outside of work is very expensive. Similar to trying to get health insurance without your employer negotiating the rates down.

Dream system:
Everyone gets 1 week a year sick leave, but the ability to tap into a disability bank for 1-12 weeks if emergency strikes. I have many coworkers who abuse the sick leave we get and call out sick constantly, but also have coworkers who got hired on at 30 and have a baby or emergency and then have to take LWOP. I also have coworkers who retire with 2000 hours of sick leave. Current system isn't distributing sick leave in the best way possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My agency does not have a leave bank. You have to apply for a voluntary leave program and then ask people personally for donations, which is awkward

And sad! At my previous bureau I would get 3-4 requests a week for people begging for donations for cancer, chemo, child's death, transplants, etc. It was honestly depressing and would really get me down. One person was hit crossing the road in front of work even and I thought of that for weeks. There was no way I could donate to everyone. I had to stop opening them because it got me so upset. Wish work would offer short term disability or a leave bank.

I don't understand, we have short term disability that we can purchase outside of work as well as long-term disability insurance. Did these people just not pay for it?

STD outside of work is very expensive. Similar to trying to get health insurance without your employer negotiating the rates down.

Dream system:
Everyone gets 1 week a year sick leave, but the ability to tap into a disability bank for 1-12 weeks if emergency strikes. I have many coworkers who abuse the sick leave we get and call out sick constantly, but also have coworkers who got hired on at 30 and have a baby or emergency and then have to take LWOP. I also have coworkers who retire with 2000 hours of sick leave. Current system isn't distributing sick leave in the best way possible.

Yes! Offering std like Aflac through work wouldn't cost the government anything.