I'm getting a much needed surgery on the 22nd that involves opening part of my skull, and I unfortunately do not have enough paid leave to cover the 4 weeks my neurosurgeon's team says I should take off work. Because of this, if I don't want to go unpaid beyond the unpaid leave I have (about 100 hours), I need to fill out paperwork requesting other employees donate their leave to me. I can come in after those 100 hours, I guess, but I'll have stitches in my head, won't be able to drive, and probably will be drugged up still. I'll likely be more of a hinderance than a help. I'm very mad that whether or not I get paid after getting my skull cut open and following the orders of my neurosurgeon depends on the kindness of my coworkers and people in other departments. My bills won't stop just because I'm not at work. I have savings so this won't be a terrible blow, but it very easily could be to someone. I'm well aware I'm completely disposable to my employer, so I'm not surprised but that doesn't mean I can't be angry that other employees donating their leave is the solution they settled on.
And to explain why it's not heartwarming: it's a very kind gesture by the person donating, but the fact they're in a situation they're donating their leave at all is extremely exploitative. People should not be in positions that they're relying on the donated leave of others to get paid during medical leave.