TECHNICAL GLOSSARY

What Is Bereavement Leave?

This is the period of time during which an employee will be given an allowance of work days due to the death of a loved one. This allowance will occur during the grieving process, attending the funeral services, and/or dealing with other personal matters that may arise as a result of their loved one passing away. This is a common policy for organizations with 15 or more employees or offer this as company policy to help their employees through the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, or other close family member; however, there is no federal law requiring that bereavement leave be paid. Many employers do have policies in place for bereavement leave and will include this information in the employee handbook for clarity and fairness

Is Bereavement Leave Paid?

According to state and local regulation, as well as the company's own policy, bereavement leave may be paid or unpaid. Employers usually offer a certain number of paid days off as part of their standard benefits package. In some cases, employees can use PTO, vacation, or sick leave as they take unpaid leave. In most cases, if an employee does not take their bereavement leave in the current year, it will not carry over to future years. Since policies regarding bereavement leave can differ significantly from one company to another, it is important for employees to check their employer's handbook or consult with Human Resources to confirm their company's specific policies regarding its treatment of bereavement leave

What Does "Immediate Family" Mean?

The Employee's Company Determines Immediate Family For Purposes Of Bereavement Leave. While Each Employee Should Have Their Immediate Families Defined By Their Employer, Most Employers Define Immediate Family As:

• Spouse Or Domestic Partner
• Children (Biological, Step, Or Adoptive)
• Parents Or Other Legal Guardians
• Siblings
• Grandparents And Grandchildren Some Employers May Also Include Family Members Like Aunts, Uncles, Niece, Nephew, Etc. Conflicting Extended Family Will Need To Be Checked By The Employee With Their Employer To Determine Eligibility For Family Leave.

How Long Is Bereavement Leave?

Most bereavement leave duration in the USA is typically between 3 - 5 days depending upon factors that include:

1. Your relationship with the deceased
2. Cultural/religious needs of the deceased
3. Employee discretion

As an example; in some faiths, a mourning period may last up to 7 days (Shiva) therefore; when applicable, management has the ability to grant additional time off to meet the above needs.