Blood donations make an important contribution to healthcare provision. To make it easier for employees to give blood, Italian law provides for a paid day off under certain conditions. The rule applies to voluntary blood donations at an authorized blood donation center and obliges the employer to grant the corresponding time off work.
Who is entitled to paid time off?
All employees in the private sector are eligible, regardless of category or sector, including apprentices, domestic workers and agricultural workers. The following are not eligible:
- self-employed persons and freelancers,
- collaborators registered with the INPS Separate Account.
What conditions must be met?
In order for the employee to be entitled to the day off with pay and for the employer to be able to claim reimbursement, the following conditions must be met:
- At least 250 grams of blood must be donated;
- The donation must be made at an authorized blood donation center (e.g. AVIS);
- The donation must be confirmed by a medical certificate. This must include, amongst other things, the tax number of the center, the donor’s details, and the date and time of the donation.
Duration of time off
Time off work for blood donation covers the entire day of the donation, regardless of the actual duration of the procedure.
Ineligibility for donation
If the employee is assessed as unfit to donate, they are not entitled to a full paid day off. Only the time required to determine the unfitness, carry out the associated procedures and return to work is remunerated. In this case too, an official certificate from the center is required. Possible reasons for ineligibility to donate include, for example, abnormal blood pressure, pulse or temperature, low iron levels or the use of certain medications.
Reimbursement to the employer
The remuneration advanced by the employer may be offset against the contributions owed to the INPS as part of the monthly contribution statement.