CHINA LAKE, Calif., –When the going gets tough, NAWCWD has a plan to help the tough get going. For the past two years, Madonna Clark, human resource technician, has managed the NAWCWD Leave Transfer Program that has helped hundreds of employees navigate tough times with a little (leave) help from friends.

In 2010, 421 employees donated more than 14,000 hours of annual leave to 76 approved employees. In 2011, that number of leave recipients almost doubled with 126 qualified employees receiving leave assistance from 563 employees who donated more than 14,000 annual leave hours.

To be eligible for the Leave Transfer Program an employee must have a medical emergency that is expected to be at least 24 hours. The emergency can be for the employee or a family member. The medical emergency must be documented by a physician and include the diagnosis, prognosis, duration of the illness, and expected date of release back to work. Maternity leave (up to six weeks) also qualifies an employee for the program.

To apply for the program the employee completes a Leave Recipient Form (OPM 630) along with the most recent medical documentation. Employees who apply must exhaust all sick and annual leave prior to donations being used.

Co-workers within the Department of the Navy may donate leave to an approved recipient using the Request to Donate Annual Leave Form (OPM 630-A). To donate leave to an employee outside the agency, the Request to Donate Annual Leave Form (OPM 630-B) must be used. The most recent Leave & Earnings Statement must be included for outside agency donations.

Donors can only donate annual leave and only half of the amount of annual leave accrued each year can be donated. If use-or-lose annual leave is being donated, no more can be donated than the number of hours the donor is scheduled to work and receive pay for, during the remainder of the year. The minimum amount of annual leave that can be donated is one hour. In addition, leave donors cannot donate annual leave to their supervisor.