Canadian Blood Services helps employees become living organ donors

Canadian Blood Services is proud to have joined the Living Donor Circle of Excellence, a new program launched by the Canadian Society of Transplantation (CST).

CST, in collaboration with the American Society of Transplantation, introduced the Living Donor Circle of Excellence program to celebrate employers who implement policies that provide salary support to employees who choose to be living organ donors.

In October, Canadian Blood Services extended its paid leave policy to employees who wish to become living organ donors. Employees who wish to donate organs will be provided up to 12 weeks’ leave, without loss of regular earnings.

“We want employees to feel supported and empowered to make these life-changing decisions,” says Andrew Pateman, Canadian Blood Services’ vice-president of people, culture and performance. “Not only do we want to lead by example and hope that other organizations will follow suit, but we need to ensure our colleagues receive the proper time to heal and recover while being fully paid. This applies to all Canadian Blood Services employees.”

How can I become a living organ donor?

According to CST, the financial hardships associated with living organ donation can impact a person’s decision to donate. One of the major expenses is lost wages during recovery after surgery. Living organ donation typically requires a four- to six-week recovery period and many donors use their vacation time or take unpaid absences in order to properly recover. Although some Canadian employers have initiatives and programs to compensate donors for some out-of-pocket expenses, most do not have policies to provide paid time off for employees who donate organs.

To learn more about the Canadian Society of Transplantation’s Living Donor Circle of Excellence program, and how to join the circle by supporting employees to become living organ donors, visit the Living Donor Circle of Excellence website.