Bereavement Leave — grief leave
Paid or unpaid time off work granted to employees following the death of a family member or close person.
Official source: dol.gov
Bereavement leave is a kind of time off from work given to employees when someone close to them dies. This time off can be paid or unpaid, depending on the employer's rules. While the national government doesn't make companies offer paid bereavement leave, some states like Oregon, Illinois, California, and Maryland have laws that give employees this right.When companies do offer bereavement leave, it often means an employee can take about 3 to 5 days off if an immediate family member passes away. It's important to know that bereavement leave is different from FMLA leave, which is used for serious illnesses. A common thing to remember is that even if a company offers bereavement leave, the specific rules about who counts as a "family member" or how much time you can take might be different for each workplace, so it's always good to check your company's policy. See also: <a href="/glossary/temporary-disability-insurance">Temporary Disability Insurance</a>.
In real life
- A worker takes three paid days off after their grandmother passes away.
- Someone uses their company's bereavement leave policy to get unpaid time off when a close friend dies.
- A new employee learns they can take a few days off with pay after the death of their parent, as stated in their job benefits.
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Frequently asked questions about Bereavement Leave
What is Bereavement Leave?+
Paid or unpaid time off work granted to employees following the death of a family member or close person. The amount of time and whether it is paid varies by employer policy and state law. Federal law does not mandate paid bereavement leave; several states have enacted their own requirements.
Who qualifies for Bereavement Leave?+
Eligibility rules vary. Use BK's free Benefit Eligibility Screener to see if you may qualify based on your situation.
How do I apply for Bereavement Leave?+
BenefitKarma's free Benefit Eligibility Screener can point you to the right application path.
Where can I get help?+
Use BenefitKarma's free Benefit Eligibility Screener to see what programs you may qualify for. The Find Benefits tool tool also lets you browse programs by state.
Source: dol.gov