Emergency Responder Leave Policy
(PA)

Summary

This template is an emergency responder leave policy that governs leave for employees in Pennsylvania who are volunteer firefighters or fire police, or volunteer members of an ambulance service or rescue squad. This template includes practical guidance and drafting notes. This template is intended for private employers. Employers may include this policy in an employee handbook or distribute it as a standalone policy. Its language complies with Pennsylvania and federal law. Pennsylvania law prohibits employers from terminating, disciplining, and discriminating against employees who are volunteer firefighters or fire police, or volunteer members of an ambulance service or rescue squad because they respond to a call prior to the start of work or because they are injured in the line of duty. Pennsylvania law does not specify the amount of time available to such employees. Generally, no federal laws explicitly require employers to provide employees time off from work to volunteer as emergency responders, except where the employee may otherwise be entitled to leave under another law. For a non-jurisdictional employee handbook, see Employee Handbook. For an employee handbook checklist that outlines key handbook review considerations in Pennsylvania, see Employee Handbook Review Checklist (PA). For a full listing of key content covering leaves for employees, see Leaves for Employees Resource Kit. For a full listing of key content covering employee handbook considerations, see Employee Handbook Resource Kit. For information on emergency responder leave in Pennsylvania, see Leave Law (PA) — Disaster Relief Volunteer Leave. For information on state laws concerning emergency responder or disaster relief volunteer leave, see the Other Leaves column of the Attendance, Leaves, and Disabilities State Practice Notes Chart. For additional annotated leave templates, see Attendance, Leaves, and Disabilities State Expert Forms Chart. For tracking of recent leave laws in Pennsylvania and other key federal, state, and local Labor & Employment legal developments, see Labor & Employment Key Legal Developments Tracker (Current).