There are two types of leave sharing programs:
Using Both Programs Concurrently
You may participate in VLTP and the NIH Leave Bank simultaneously. Please note:
- If VLTP donations are made prior to leave bank recipient approval, the leave will be considered paid leave available.
- If VLTP donations are made after the leave bank approval, the NIH Leave Bank leave will be used first.
Program Similarities
- Donations consist of annual or restored annual leave
- Covers personal and family medical emergency
- Donations are made through ITAS
- Medical emergency must result in at least 24 hours of non-pay status
- All Federal employees covered under the leave provisions are eligible to donate
- Program is dependent on leave donations
Program Differences
| Description | NIH Leave Bank | VLTP |
|---|---|---|
| Donations | Donations are made to the Leave Bank. Donors may designate the recipient | Donations are made to the leave recipient. |
| Confidentiality | Medical information is confidential | Medical information requires voluntary disclosure. |
| Membership Requirements | Annual enrollment and membership contribution | None |
| Receiving Leave | Will receive leave upon approval of application | Must wait for voluntary donations from friends and coworkers |
| Leave Distribution | Leave bank board will distribute leave | Must wait for voluntary donations from friends and coworkers |
| Donation limitations | Limited by nature of medical emergency, balance in bank, and *yearly leave cap | Receipt of leave is limited by the nature of the medical emergency and amount of leave donations |
| Documentation | Authorization for medical disclosure; primary medical documentations required | Medical documentation required |
| Unused donated leave | Returned to the bank | Returned to the donor(s) |
| Approving Authority | Leave Bank Board | IC Executive Officer |
* Note that medical emergency caps may be modified at any time in order to maintain an adequate amount of leave in the Leave Bank.
Example Situations
Scenario 1: VLTP Only
Jane does not join the Leave Bank and in July experiences a prolonged medical emergency that uses up her accrued sick and annual leave.
- She contacts the VLTP Office and has to voluntarily disclose her medical emergency to be approved to receive leave.
- Once approved, Jane has to wait for her co-workers to donate leave directly to her. She is new to the organization and doesn’t know many people.
- Jane does not receive all the leave donations needed to cover her time-off and therefore, loses three paychecks worth of income during her illness.
Scenario 2: Leave Bank Only
Dan enrolls in the Leave Bank by donating one pay period’s worth of annual leave. In July he also experiences a lengthy medical emergency which exhausts his sick and annual leave.
- Dan contacts the Leave Bank office to apply to become a leave recipient. As a recipient, his medical condition is kept confidential.
- He is approved to receive leave from the pooled bank of leave hours, up to a set yearly cap, which he does not need to exceed to cover his entire time-off.
- Consequently, Dan misses no paychecks.
Scenario 3: Both Leave Bank and VLTP
Lisa enrolls in the Leave Bank and experiences a prolonged medical emergency that exhausts her sick and annual leave.
- Lisa has the same experience as Dan and receives leave from the leave bank. However, the time-off she needs exceeds the leave bank’s annual cap.
- To make up for the difference, Lisa contacts the VLTP office and applies to ALSO receive direct donations from her fellow Federal employees. She is approved.
- Between the Leave Bank and VLTP, Lisa is able to cover all the time-off she needs for her illness and misses no paychecks.
For more information, email LeaveBank@od.nih.gov or call 301-443-8393.