How Long Will I Be Out of Work if I Donate a Kidney?
If you are considering becoming a living kidney donor, you might be wondering if you’ll need to take time off work, and how long you’ll need to be out of work as you recover. Kidney donation is major surgery that requires a few weeks of recovery, so you will need to take time off work if you decide to donate a kidney. Here’s what you need to know.
How Long is the Recovery Time After Kidney Donation?
The recovery time after living kidney donation surgery will vary depending on several factors, including the type of surgery (laparoscopic vs traditional kidney removal) and the donor’s individual rate of recovery.
Most kidney donors require between one and four days to recover in the hospital and two to four weeks to recover at home. Many people can return to work within four weeks after donation.
Are There Any Work Restrictions After Kidney Donation?
If you have a desk job, you will likely be able to return to work four weeks after kidney donation. However, if your job involves heavy lifting or physical labor, you might need up to six weeks off.
For example, donors should not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for the first four weeks after kidney donor surgery. Heavy lifting is not recommended for about six to eight weeks following surgery.
It is also recommended that you refrain from flying for one week after kidney donation surgery, and driving for two weeks after surgery.
Will I Be Paid While I’m Off Work?
Some employers offer paid leave for organ donation, so it’s worth checking with your HR department. In the U.S., the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may protect your job and maintain your group health insurance while you’re recovering, although it doesn’t guarantee paid leave.
You may be able to use your accrued vacation or sick time, but most employers don’t offer six weeks of paid time off, and using this time means you won’t have access to it for vacations or other sick time. Short-term disability may be an option if your employer offers it, but that only replaces about half your wages, which is insufficient for many people.
Some states have laws requiring employers to provide organ donor leave to employees who are donating organs, but very few offer paid leave. (For more information, see Taking Time Off Work to Donate a Kidney.)
If you donate through the National Kidney Registry, you qualify for lost wage reimbursement through the Donor Shield program. Donors covered by Donor Shield are eligible for reimbursement of lost wages, up to a maximum of $2,000 per week for up to 12 weeks. Lost wage reimbursement beyond three weeks requires additional clearance from the transplant center. All lost wage reimbursements are made via ACH within approximately 10 business days after submission of proper documentation.
Using Donor Shield for lost wage reimbursement means you do not have to use short-term disability or any of your vacation or sick time for your kidney donation—you can keep that time to use for your future personal needs.
If you decide to move forward with kidney donation, register with a center that participates in the Donor Shield program to ensure you are eligible for lost wage reimbursement. Once you have registered, your transplant center will guide you through the process of applying for lost wage reimbursement.