People who lose a loved one can feel emotional and psychological stress. Sometimes, the death of a loved one brings with it logistical, financial, or administrative challenges. Many people suddenly find themselves in the role of executor, planner and mediator, as well as dealing with the grief. It can be very difficult to combine mental, physical and emotional labor.
If your employee was the caregiver for the deceased, this is even more. Although it is difficult to imagine losing someone you care about, employees can take bereavement leaves to support them when this happens. It can be helpful to learn about bereavement before your team or you need it.
What is bereavement time?
Employee bereavement policies generally require that the person who dies must be close to their family members, such as a spouse, parent, sibling, child or child. In most cases, however, bereavement can still be used to grieve the loss of a loved one. If the company has one, bereavement policies are typically outlined in the employee handbook. Small to medium-sized businesses don’t usually have a formal leave policy.
Is it mandatory to take bereavement leave?
Employers are not required to offer bereavement leave by federal law. A state law is not required to provide bereavement leave. Oregon is the only state with a state-specific leave law. Employers that offer formalized leave agreements or bereavement leave must ensure they are upheld equally by all employees. Although companies are not generally required to offer bereavement leave for employees, this could change if union workers are hired. As part of a collective bargaining arrangement, unions may negotiate grief. Employees do not have to take bereavement time. Employees can use the time, if they have it, at their own discretion.
Even though it isn’t necessary, employers and employees should support this important employee benefit. Your emotional and physical well-being can be affected by grief. Even if you feel the pain temporarily, it can cause more serious problems later. These could include an obsession, fatigue, depression, anger, and addictive behavior.
Is there a bereavement leave?
Bereavement leave can be provided by companies that offer paid, unpaid or a combination of both. The policies are tailored to each case as there are not any federal laws that regulate bereavement leave. A formal policy can help ensure consistency and fairness within an organization. Nearly 88 percent of companies offer paid leave for employees who have lost a loved. Facebook/Meta, Adobe and others offer up to four weeks’ worth of paid leave. Anyone who works full-time at a company is eligible to be considered an employee.
Employers who are grieving can take paid leave. This is not only a wise decision for the company. Employees who feel valued and appreciated at work are more likely stay. Payed leave costs are often less than turnover costs. As taking sick leave can boost productivity, encouraging employees take care of their physical and emotional well-being will make them more productive and engaged when they return. Paid leave, while any type of guaranteed time is good, gives employees something to look forward to during difficult times. This is a subtle, but powerful way to show your employees that you care.
What is the length of bereavement leave?
There are many factors that influence the length of bereavement. Most people don’t know the difference between types of leave. This is because of the relationship between the deceased and the employee. Employees are entitled to at least three days of bereavement time for the death or ill health of a family member. This includes siblings, parents, children, spouses, grandparents, and other family members. Many companies offer two weeks of paid time and possibly additional unpaid benefits. Unpaid bereavement leaves may have a limit in time. It is customary for non-immediate relatives to be granted at least one day’s paid leave.
However, some organizations offer more. Many companies offer short, four-hour leaves to allow employees to attend the memorial or funeral service of a colleague. Although the relationship to the deceased is used often to determine the amount of leave an employee has, this practice is becoming less common. People form new relationships as the “nuclear family” stereotype is dispelled. Some people, for example, are cared for by guardians or have primary responsibility over the estate of a friend. The individual should decide how long they want to grieve the loss.
