Bereavement means the death of a loved one. Therefore, Bereavement Leave is the time-off taken by an employee following the death of a loved one. In the event of familial death, most corporates have a bereavement policy of providing time off to employees to grieve their loved ones. This is called Bereavement Leave, also known as compassionate leave or grievance leave.
As of date, no country has decreed Bereavement Leave by law. However, most corporates offer Bereavement Leave on compassionate grounds. Here is a brief account of how bereavement policies are framed and followed around the world
| Country Name | Bereavement Policy |
| USA | The Federal Law in the UA does not ask for mandatory Bereavement days from employers. Most employers in the USA grant 3 days of paid leave to grieve close family members. |
| New Zealand | Leave is granted after considering the closeness of the relative, logistical responsibilities, and cultural understanding. Typically a Bereavement Leave in New Zealand is 3 days. |
| UK | No such policy. But it is understood for employees to take ‘a reasonable time’ off, in the event of a familial death. |
| Spain | Corporates in Spain offer 2 days’ leave to their employees for bereavement. However, if the employee needs to travel to attend the funeral, up to 4 days of leave may be given. |
| China | Bereavement Leave policy depends on local guidelines, from 1 to 3 days of paid leave is usually given to employees for bereavement. |
| France | French companies offer their employees 3 days of Bereavement Leave. In case of the death of a child, up to 5 days of paid leave is given to an employee. |
| Singapore | Laws of the land do not mandate a Bereavement Leave policy from any corporate. However, most companies in Singapore give Bereavement Leave for 3 to 5 days, but in some cases, the leave can be up to 20 days. |
| South Africa | Family Responsibility Leave decrees that companies should give employees at least 3 days of Bereavement Leave, but only if the employee has completed four months of employment working four days a week. |
| India | No legal requirements for Bereavement Leave, but most companies offer up to 7 days of leave to grieve the loss of a loved one. Some Multinational companies may have more generous policies. |
Corporate organizations clearly define Bereavement in their company policy. You have to consult the company policy to understand details such as leave duration, bereavement policies, paid or unpaid Bereavement Leave, and which situations qualify as bereavement.
Usually, only close relatives such as grandparents, parents, spouses, siblings, and children are covered under Bereavement Leave. However, some companies may include extended family, friends, and even pets under this policy.
Typically, Bereavement Leaves are unpaid, however, this may differ. A lot of corporates offer Bereavement pay to their employees. If your company does not offer paid Bereavement Leaves, opt for paid leaves such as PTO.
After an employee receives the unfortunate news, they should inform their employer through an e-mail or phone. HR should ensure that all employees are aware of whom to reach out to in such a situation.
Every company offers a different duration of Bereavement Leave. You may take time off depending on how long Bereavement Leave your company states as a Bereavement Leave duration.
A typical company Bereavement Leave Policy defines the following:
-> Duration of Bereavement Leave
-> Bereavement definition including the family members covered
-> Whether the company offers paid or unpaid Bereavement Leave or grievance pay
-> Whom can the employees reach out to, before taking leave
No, Bereavement Leave is not required by law in any country so far.
Usually, employees are not required to show proof of death for Bereavement Leave. However, in some corporates, the policy requires the employees to show an obituary, a funeral program, or a death certificate.
A good hiring process flowchart is essential for companies. It helps you optimize recruitment. This…
Hiring freelancers is easy; however, finding the right talent without the headache is a real…
Internal recruitment is the process of hiring employees within the company for new job positions.…
Candidate experience has become a crucial metric in hiring today. It imparts how potential candidates…
Many employers tend to hire candidates on a need basis. However, this may not be…
With the competitive job market, a data-driven recruitment approach is key to business success. Predictive…
We use cookies to customize your visit for authentication, functional services, analytics, and advertising.
Cookie Policy