ANCHOR LEAD IN:
WHAT IF YOU NEEDED TO TAKE MONTHS OFF WORK BECAUSE OF ILLNESS OR A FAMILY CRISIS? YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE MONTHS OF TIME OFF SAVED UP. AND TAKING UNPAID LEAVE IS OFTEN NOT AN OPTION. IN TODAY'S HEADS UP_________EXPLAINS, HOW COMPANIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY NOW HAVE PROGRAMS IN PLACE THAT HELPS EMPLOYEES OUT IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.

TRACK ONE Length: 10
CAROLYN NOBEL WAS ONLY 33 WHEN SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER. BETWEEN SURGERIES AND CHEMOTHERAPY, SHE NEEDED MONTHS OFF WORK… BUT THERE WAS ONE PROBLEM.

SOT
KEY @ : 11 (SHORT) Carolyn Nobel, Needed extra Time Off from Work
"I had 8.3 hours left of leave."

TRACK TWO Length: 12
TAKING UNPAID LEAVE WOULD'VE PUT A BURDEN ON HER FAMILY. CAROLYN'S CO-WORKERS CAME TO HER RESCUE. HER COMPANY HAS A SPECIAL LEAVE DONATION PROGRAM THAT LETS EMPLOYEES GIVE THEIR UNUSED TIME-OFF TO COLLEAGUES.

SOT
NO KEY
"I ended up with over 700 hours of leave."

SOT
KEY @ : 32 Steve Cyborn, Human Resources Consultant
"Leave donation programs are increasing in prevalence. Generally about 20% of companies offer some type of a leave donation program."

TRACK THREE Length:07
HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTANT STEVE CYBORN SAYS THEY'RE SET UP TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE ILL, HAVE A CRISIS, OR NEED TO CARE FOR A SICK LOVED ONE.

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KEY @ : 47 Steven Cyborn, Human Resources Consultant
"An employer will generally establish a policy to say this is the conditions under which you may draw upon the leave donation program."

TRACK FOUR Length: 03
AND THERE ARE GUIDELINES FOR HOW MUCH TIME A PERSON CAN RECEIVE.

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KEY @ : 1:02 Barbara Wankoff, KPMG
"We've been able to meet every single request that comes in with the maximum donation that they need."

TRACK FIVE Length: 10
INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING FIRM K-P-M-G SAYS EMPLOYEES HAVE DONATED OVER 10,000 HOURS SINCE STARTING THE PROGRAM. THEY SAY IT BUILDS COMMRADERIE AND SHOWS EMPLOYEES THEY CARE.

SOT
KEY @: 1:18 Barbara Wankoff, KPMG
"Employees feel good and that does of course engender a sense of loyalty."

TRACK SIX Length: 06
CAROLYN SAYS SHE WAS LOYAL TO HER COMPANY BEFORE, BUT NOW AFTER HER ORDEAL, SHE'S DEFINITELY NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

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NO KEY
"It meant a lot peace of mind, just knowing that I could get well."

ANCHOR TAG:
SOME PROGRAMS ARE SET UP SO THAT EMPLOYEES CAN DONATE UNSUSED TIME THAT WOULD BE LOST AT THE END OF THE YEAR, TO A GENERAL TIME OFF BANK. WITH OTHERS, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT SENDS OUT AN EMAIL ASKING PEOLE TO GIVE TIME TO A SPECIFIC PERSON…WHILE OTHERS IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR CO-WORKERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL SITUATION... HE SAYS DON'T WORRY... MANY TIMES THE PROCESS IS ANONYMOUS.

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Steve Cyborn
Segal Sibson
PR Contact:
Mary Feldman
212-251-5000

Steve Cyborn is a health actuary with the human resources consulting firm Segal Sibson. He says more and more companies are offering leave donation programs as a way to show employees that they care and to build loyalty. Steve thinks that these programs will become more prevalent in the future.

Barbara Wankoff
KPMG
PR Contact:
Laura Sheraton
609-509-5875

KPMG has had a leave donation program in place since 1999, and they have donated more than 10,000 hours to employees in need. Barbara says their policies and guidelines for the program closely mirror the Family Medical Leave Act. Barbara says the time off donation program has been extremely popular with employees.