Community Service/Volunteer Policy

Transcription

1 Community Service/Volunteer Policy In an effort to benefit our employees and our community, the City Of Columbia supports employee volunteer participation in projects and organizations which contribute to the health and vitality of the communities where our employees live and work. The City Of Columbia will provide this support with community service/volunteer (CSV) paid time for eligible volunteer activities at a rate of 24 hours per calendar year not chargeable to annual or sick leave accruals. All full-time employees that have successfully completed their introductory (probationary) period are eligible to request CSV hours. Unused CSV hours will not carry over to the next calendar year and are not paid out when an employee separates employment. CSV time may be used pursuant to the following guidelines: CSV time must be approved in advance by completing a request form obtained from your supervisor/department head or the Human Resources Department. A request form must be submitted to your supervisor/department head and approval is granted prior to using CSV time. The approved request will be submitted to human resources for compliance monitoring. Individual departments time keepers will be responsible for ensure employees do not exceed the 24 hour limit. Employees should submit any requests for CSV time at least 10 days in advance, whenever possible. Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate requests; however, supervisors/department heads approval is contingent upon business needs, workload, and the performance of each individual staff member. An employee s job responsibilities will take precedence over volunteer activities. Employees not performing at a quality level as determined by their supervisor/department head will be deemed not eligible to participate until they meet acceptable standards. The City Of Columbia retains sole discretion over the approval or denial of requests for CSV time. CSV time may be utilized during, before, or after work or on the weekends, depending on the type of volunteer program. CSV time must not conflict with work related responsibilities or cause conflicts with other employees schedules. CSV time will be paid at an employee s normal rate of pay and is not subject to overtime. Similarly, as with other nonworking paid time (i.e., sick leave and annul leave) CSV time will not count as hours worked for any purpose. CSV time may be used on projects and activities and with organizations that benefit the community at-large. Some examples of these activities are listed below:

2 School-related: Parent-Teacher Conferences Tutor, Guest Lecturer, or other supplemental Instructional program Lunch buddies Mentoring Programs School Support Activities Parent Training Programs After School Enrichment Programs Graduations Community Service Agencies which qualify for CSV time are: American Red Cross Arts Council Boy Scouts of America Boys and Girls Club of America Big Brothers Big Sisters Palmetto Baptist Hospital Palmetto Heath Systems Communities in Schools Girl Scouts of America Emergency Shelters Homeless Shelters Goodwill Industries Salvation Army

3 Habitat for Humanity International YMCA/YWCA Kids Voting Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation Special Olympics Teen Shelters United Way Urban League of Richland County Environmental Protection Volunteer Activities: Adopt-A-Highway Adopt-A-Stream Note: This list is not intended to be a final list. It is designed to serve as a guideline for the types of agencies/organizations that would qualify for CSV time. There may be many other organizations not included in this list. When completing a request form please be sure to clearly list the agency/organization you will be working with, attach brochures if necessary. CSV time is not intended for the following activities: Organizations whose primary purpose is to influence political campaigns on behalf of or against any candidate, political party, or political action committee Participation in rallies, marches, or other events with a political agenda Involvement in schools for attendance at social or sporting events Faith-based religious gatherings Participation in fraternal organizations, social clubs, sororities, labor organizations, or athletic/recreational clubs CSV time cannot be used if you are a participant in a run, marathon, golf tournament, or other recreational activity, even if the goal is to raise funds for charitable goals and services In place of annual or sick leave

4 Solicitation for charities or organizations in the workplace will not be permitted in accordance with the City s No-Solicitation No-Distribution policy The City Of Columbia reserves the right to deny CSV time to an employee for participation in any organization or activity that may represent a conflict of interest in accordance with City policy

5 City Of Columbia Community Service/Volunteer (CSV) Time Request Form Employee Name: Employee Number: Name and nature of organization or event: Specific service you will be providing: Date(s) and hours requested:

6 This is to acknowledge that I desire to volunteer my services performing duties listed above and that these services rendered by me will be solely at the direction of the organization listed above. I represent that I will not receive any monetary or other compensation by the organization for my time, although I may accept certain incidentals such as meals, souvenirs during my performance of services. I further understand that CSV time is a benefit from my employer, the City of Columbia and I am not acting in the course and scope of my employment while utilizing CSV time. I agree to hold the City of Columbia harmless in the event of any injury or loss occurring while engaged in any activity for which I am receiving CSV time. Employee Signature: Department Head/Supervisor: