One of our employees would like to volunteer to donate her kidney to a sick relative. She is currently being tested but the match looks good. If she proceeds this will mean that she needs 6-12+ weeks leave for this purpose.
The Company has a 10 day Occupational Sick Pay Scheme. This employee has already taken more than 10 days sick leave as she herself needed an emergency operation. The Co used it’s discretion and she has been paid for all sick leave to date.
While we accept that she is making a large personal sacrifice we are not comfortable that the Company should need to fund this by keeping her on full pay (as effectively it is elective not necessary to her surgery).
We would be happy for her to return to work once she had fully recovered.
The employee has less than 12 months service.
We take a fair and equal approach with all our employees and feel that to agree to this request and continue to pay her salary – would then mean that we would have to do the same for others requiring cosmetic or other non necessary surgery.
We would appreciate your advice in this particularly if you have had the same situation to deal with.
M Curtis
