Guidelines for Bereavement Leave

describe the imageOffering bereavement leave to employees gives them time to cope with losing a family member or close personal friend. This benefit can help support a productive work environment.

While not a federal requirement, many companies provide bereavement leave to allow the employee and their family to mourn. Generally, an employee may have three days off, either paid or unpaid, with additional time granted on a case-by-case basis. 

Employers should outline bereavement leave guidelines in the employee’s contract for employment or in the standard employee handbook. When a close family member or another person living within the household passes away, the employee should take the prearranged steps to contact their employer or manager, who will determine if the death warrants bereavement leave.

If the employer provides bereavement leave, the employee may be absent from work for the period defined within the contract. In some situations, the employer may provide sick days for the employee if the death is not for an immediate family member. Additionally, when the employee requires additional days off, management can award more time but require the employee to use sick days. Qualifying employers can also grant employees a Family Medical Leave to care for a dying family member. For more information, read “What Small Businesses Should Know About FMLA Rules.”

This content is provided by Patriot Software, Inc., developer of online solutions for small business owners in America, including online payroll software, human resources software, hiring software, and employee self-serve software. For more information, visit www.PatriotSoftware.com.

We provide fast, simple, and affordable accounting and payroll software. After a rough start-up experience, we know first hand what small businesses need in order to breakthrough and achieve success. So we created a software service to help you keep the two things you don’t have enough of… time and money.

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