Bereavement leave

Paid or unpaid time off following the death of an employee’s relative or friend. This time, generally ranging from one to three days, is given so that the employee can make arrangements, attend the funeral and attend to other matters related to the deceased. Many organizations are flexible in terms of how much time an employee takes off.

The death of a loved one or a family member can be a testing time for an employee. It is important to allow them time to recover and deal with this loss. This type of leave can be treated the same as sick leave, for certain individuals it may take up to 12 weeks to handle and feel better. The impact of grief can be mentally draining and so it is important that a human resources department prepares suitable procedures to accomodate for the distress and upset that can be caused by bereavement.