Cornell faculty and staff who are certified by the American Red Cross or similar organizations as disaster volunteers or emergency disaster responders can now take paid leave for up to five days per calendar year.

"For the first time, Cornell has enacted an ongoing leave policy that permits those who are qualified to serve others in disaster emergencies," says Lauran Jacoby, senior consultant in Workforce Policy and Labor Relations.

A new provision, contained in the section "Volunteer Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technician and Emergency Responder Leave" (University Policy 6.9, Time Away From Work), provides the paid leave for regular employees who are trained and registered as emergency responders and whose services are needed in disaster relief efforts, sometimes far from Ithaca.

The provision also applies to academic employees and is cross-referenced in University Policy 6.2.1, Leaves for Professors and Academic Staff.

Jacoby notes, "In the past, Cornell had approved this type of leave on a temporary basis in response to such major disasters as Hurricane Katrina. The new paid leave provision, however, will be ongoing."

More information is available online for nonacademic staff and academic staff. Questions can be directed to college or unit human resource representatives or to Workforce Policy and Labor Relations at 255-4652, 255-6894 or 255-6866.