Navigating the challenges of health insurance and medical leave during a long-term illness — whether your own or a loved one’s — can be overwhelming.
Emotionally, physically, and financially, a major medical event can shake a family to its core.
It is why the City of Flandreau this past week voted to help employees support each other during tough times. The council approved a policy allowing staff to donate some of their unused sick time to coworkers in need.
Under the new policy, city employees can donate up to 40 hours of sick leave per calendar year, as long as they maintain at least 40 hours of sick time in their own bank.
Donated hours become available to an employee only after they’ve exhausted their own paid sick leave.

Requests will be reviewed case by case, but employees facing challenges such as illness, maternity leave, or caring for a loved one with a serious health condition will likely qualify for the donated hours.
Just a few years ago, this kind of policy was relatively rare. In 2017, only 22% of U.S. employers offering paid sick leave allowed workers to donate hours to others. However, leave-sharing programs have become more popular, especially in the wake of COVID-19.
They’re particularly common among public-sector employers, such as schools, compared to the private sector.
While paid leave is typically taxable, the IRS makes exceptions for two types of leave-sharing programs: those for medical emergencies and natural disasters. This means employees can donate sick time without worrying about tax consequences, as long as the program meets these guidelines.
Other Updates from the Flandreau City Council Meeting on December 2nd:
● Janklow Community Center Rentals: While no decisions were made, council members discussed rental agreements and cleaning fees for the facility. Many groups, including school organizations and nonprofits, use the space without paying cleaning fees. Administrator Turnquist proposed creating a standard list of groups eligible for waived fees and increasing the cleaning fee for others. Rental rates will remain unchanged.
● Broad Avenue Development: Mayor Dan Sutton shared that he and Turnquist have been meeting with a potential investor to explore new development opportunities in the Broad Avenue area.
● Pipestone Avenue Resurfacing: Turnquist provided an update on the state’s plans to resurface Pipestone Avenue. Along with repaving, the city aims to replace outdated infrastructure as part of the project if possible.