As of March 18, 2018, CSEA members covered under New York Civil Service Law will be eligible to take up to four hours of paid leave for all cancer screenings without charges to leave credits.
While an earlier version of the cancer screening law entitled employees to take up to four hours of paid leave annually for breast or prostate cancer screening, the new law expands the paid leave with no accrual charges to screening for all types of cancer.
Employees are entitled to leave, or to have credits restored upon submission of satisfactory documentation that the employee’s absence was for purposes of cancer screening.
The benefit may be used once per calendar year and does not carry over if unused.
Employees are entitled to leave for cancer screening during normal working hours, and do not need to seek time and attendance coverage. If the screenings exceed four hours in a calendar year, the employee will be required to charge leave time for the difference.
Cancer screening includes physical examinations, blood work or other laboratory tests for the detection of cancer. Travel time is included in the four hours.
“I urge all eligible CSEA members to take advantage of this important law,” CSEA President Danny Donohue said. “You never know when a cancer screening could end up saving your own life.”
Any questions about these provisions should be referred to the state Department of Civil Service’s Attendance and Leave Unit at 518-457-2295.
