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If I need to get screened for cancer, do I need to use my sick time/CAR days? If I need to leave work for a cancer screening, is it paid or unpaid time?

Leaving work for the purpose of cancer screening for up to four hours per year is considered paid leave and you do not have to use your sick time. This time is allowable for all types of cancer screenings. 

Accommodations will be made for DOE employees requesting time off for the purpose of cancer screening. Requests for such time off must be made in advance and in writing. Approval must be granted by the principal or his/her designee, as long as such request does not substantially disrupt the normal operation of the office/school. 

In the event that the office head or principal determines that the number of requests would cause a substantial disruption, then the office head or principal can limit the granting of such excused leave to a reasonable number of staff requesting it on the same day and deny the other requests until a more appropriate time.

Read the DOE's personnel memo detailing this policy » 

If you have been diagnosed with a major medical condition, the UFT's Health & Cancer Helpline can help »