Does the law require us to provide bereavement leave?
Our HR Management & Compliance Report: How To Comply with California and Federal Leave Laws, covers everything you need to know to stay in compliance with both state and federal law in one of the trickiest areas of compliance for even the most experienced HR professional. Learn the rules for pregnancy and parental leaves, medical exams and certifications, intermittent leaves, required notices, and more.
Private sector employers are not required to give bereavement leave, though most do provide paid time off to employees when a death occurs in the employee’s immediate family. The most common length of bereavement leave is three days per year. Some employers also allow a day for attending the funeral of a close friend, while others allow unpaid leave in various circumstances. Private employers may set whatever bereavement leave policy they like as long as it applies to all employees uniformly and is enforced consistently.
Note that state employees are legally permitted to take three days of bereavement leave, with pay, on the death of a person related by blood, adoption, or marriage or any person residing in the employee’s immediate household at the time of death. — CELA Editor