Blood donors are entitled to two days off from work – on the day of donating blood and the next day. It was on this matter that the Polish 2050 MP Bartosz Romowicz submitted an interpellation to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy at the beginning of September. “Employers report that some employees abuse their rights to donate blood under the Act – two days off, thus organizing the so-called 'long weekend', which happens even several times a year,” he wrote in interpellation.
“Abuse of rights” by blood donors. The MP appealed for relief for employers
“Moreover, it also happens that employees leave the workplace without prior notice to the employer and provide blood donation certificates only after returning,” he added. The politician noted that these actions “significantly disorganize the functioning of enterprises”, which then struggle with the problem of staff shortages. “The above results in the need to reorganize tasks, and often leads to serious financial losses,” Romowicz said.
He therefore proposed that, considering the fact that “surplus plasma is transferred to foreign companies for an appropriate fee, which generates significant revenues for regional blood donation and treatment centers”, “it would be reasonable to consider the possibility of introducing financial compensation or relief for employers.”
The deputy minister of health replied. “Blood donation is a mission and responsibility”
He was on time for Romowicz's interpellation reply deputy head of the Ministry of Health Jerzy Szafranowicz. At the beginning, he emphasized that “honorary blood donation is a mission and responsibility. Blood cannot be bought or produced, which is why it is so important to donate it honorably.” “However, it should be noted that it is good practice to consult the employer each time he or she wishes to donate blood and thus obtain a day off. The blood donor should not use the right to days off for voluntary blood donation in a way that could harm the employer,” Szafranowicz noted.
The deputy minister also confirmed that the Ministry of Health is not carrying out any legislative work on changes to the regulations regarding blood donation. The Ministry of Family and Labor has not yet responded to the interpellation – this is expected to happen within an extended period.