World blood donor day: A guide for employees and employers on blood donor leave and donation

Every year on June 14, the world celebrates International Blood Donor Day. This day serves as an excellent reminder of how profoundly we can impact the lives of others - a single blood donation can save up to three lives.

While donating blood is a noble and voluntary act, the Latvian regulatory framework provides specific mechanisms and support to facilitate this process for both working donors and their employers. In this article, we will outline the rights and obligations of both parties under the Labour Law, as well as where and how to donate blood or even organize a Donor Day directly at your workplace.

1. Employee rights: What is a donor entitled to after donating blood?

In Latvia, blood donors are highly valued, and the state ensures that the time spent donating blood does not affect an employee's income. According to Section 74 of the Labour Law, an employee who donates blood at a medical institution is entitled to the following rights:

• Release from work for the duration of the donation: An employee has the right to be released from their work duties for the time actually required to donate blood (travel time to/from the venue and the procedure itself) while retaining their salary. This means that the day of blood donation itself is not an automatic day off - the employee is expected to return to work after the procedure. The employee must notify the employer about the scheduled donation time in advance.

Exception: The employer may justify and pay for the entire workday if there is an objective reason - for example, the donation site is very far away and logistically prevents a timely return to work, or if the employee feels faint after the procedure.

• Additional paid day off: After each instance of blood donation, the employee is entitled to one full, paid additional day off (the so-called donor's day off).
• Deadline for using the day off: By agreement with the employer, this day off can be used at another time or, for example, added to the annual paid leave. However, it must be noted that this day off must be used within one year from the day of the blood donation.
• Annual limit: The employer is obliged to pay for no more than 5 such days off within a calendar year (unless a higher number is specified in the collective agreement or employment contract).

Important: How is the payment for donor days calculated?

In accordance with the Labour Law, the type of remuneration depends on the employee's salary system:

• If the employee is paid a time wage (monthly salary or hourly rate), they are paid their regular remuneration for this time (meaning their salary for the respective month does not decrease);
• If the employee is paid a piecework wage (payment based on the volume of work completed), they are paid their average earnings.

What should be considered if you donate blood on a rest day or during vacation?

If an employee chooses to donate blood on a day that is already a scheduled rest day or during their annual vacation, they are still entitled to one additional paid day off to be used later within the year. However, the actual day of blood donation is not paid additionally, as the employee was not pulled away from active work duties on that day.

2. Employer’s guide: Why supporting donors is valuable

Employers sometimes wonder - what is the benefit for the company if an employee goes to donate blood and then takes paid days off? The answer lies not only in Corporate Social Responsibility but also in team loyalty and health:

1. Corporate social responsibility (CSR): By supporting blood donation, a company practically demonstrates its values and care for public health. This enhances the company's image in the eyes of both clients and potential job candidates;
2. Employee loyalty and cohesion: Employees highly appreciate employers who are understanding and supportive in these matters. Furthermore, a joint blood donation initiative can serve as an excellent team-building activity;
3. Health check-up: Before every blood donation, the donor's hemoglobin level, blood group, and other basic tests are checked free of charge. This means employees are encouraged to keep track of their health status.

3. How and where to donate blood in Latvia?

To donate blood, a person must be between 18 and 65 years old, weigh at least 50 kg, and must not have been recently ill or taken specific medications. Before heading to a donation site, it is recommended to review the VADC Frequently Asked Questions, which describe in detail what to eat, what to avoid, and how to prepare the day before the procedure.

Blood and its components can be donated at the permanent locations of the State Blood Donor Center (VADC) in Riga and the regions, as well as during specialized mobile donation trips (including the Donor Bus). You can find the current schedule, locations, and working hours here:

• VADC official website
• VADC mobile trips and donation venues map

4. Organizing a donor day at your company – how to do it?

If your company has at least 30 responsive employees (or if you can team up with neighboring offices or business partners), it is a wonderful idea to organize a Donor Day right on your premises or within your office complex.

As stated on the official website of the State Blood Donor Center (VADC), mobile trips to companies and institutions can be arranged as follows:

1. Survey potential donors: Ensure that the number of interested donors in the company is sufficient (for the VADC team to schedule a mobile trip, the preferred minimum number of donors is 30 people);
2. Contact VADC in advance: The mobile trip must be coordinated at least one month in advance by calling the VADC phone numbers: 67471474 or 29475216;
3. Prepare the venue: VADC specialists will help assess whether the company's premises are suitable for the procedures. If suitable indoor space is unavailable, it is possible to arrange for the specialized Donor Bus to arrive at your office building.

Summary

Donating blood is a quick and simple way to do something profoundly meaningful for society. By knowing their rights and planning work schedules in accordance with the law, this process can run smoothly, bringing satisfaction to both the employee and the company.

We wish all current and future donors a meaningful International Blood Donor Day! Keep track of the current blood supply status on the VADC website, and let’s help save lives together!