Leave for Breast Cancer Screening

Effective November 11, 2002, state employees may take up to four hours of paid leave annually for screening for breast cancer without charge to accruals. The benefit is available to both male and female employees for the current calendar year. Beginning January 1, 2003, the benefit will be available for the full calendar year. Leave for breast cancer screening is not cumulative and expires at the close of business on the last day of each calendar year.

Breast cancer screening includes physical exams and mammograms for the detection of breast cancer. Travel time is included in the four-hour cap. Absence beyond the four-hour cap must be charged to leave credits.

Employees are entitled to a leave of absence for breast cancer screening scheduled during the employee's regular work hours. Employees who undergo screenings outside their regular work schedule do so on their own time. For example, employees are not granted compensatory time off for breast cancer screenings that occur on a pass day or a holiday.

The appointing authority may require satisfactory medical documentation that the employee's absence was for the purpose of screening for breast cancer. The new policy is summarized in Policy Bulletin No. 2002-02 of the  Attendance and Leave Manual.