Bereavement leave
Also known as: Compassionate leave, Funeral leave, Grievance leave, Mourning leave
Bereavement leave is time off granted to an employee following the death of a close family member or other significant person — for grieving, funeral attendance, and immediate practical arrangements (estate, family logistics, travel). The legal entitlement varies sharply by jurisdiction: some countries mandate it as a statutory right, others leave it entirely to employer policy.
Bereavement leave is one of the most variable HR provisions globally. Many EU countries provide statutory entitlement (typically 1-5 days for close family); the UK has no general statutory bereavement leave for adults but has the Parental Bereavement Leave Act for child loss; the US has no federal entitlement, with statutory bereavement leave in only a handful of states. Most employers — even where not legally required — offer paid bereavement leave because the alternative (forcing a grieving employee to use vacation or unpaid leave) generates lasting resentment and turnover.
Common bereavement leave policies
- Immediate family (spouse, parent, child, sibling) — typically 3-5 paid days
- Extended family (grandparent, in-law, aunt/uncle) — typically 1-2 paid days
- Domestic partner — increasingly treated equivalent to spouse
- Pregnancy loss (miscarriage, stillbirth) — increasingly added; some jurisdictions now mandate (UK's Parental Bereavement Leave Act, New Zealand, Australian states)
- Friend or chosen family — rare in policy but increasingly considered for compassionate use
- Pet bereavement — uncommon but appearing in progressive policies
Statutory bereavement leave by jurisdiction (selected)
- UK: Parental Bereavement Leave Act 2018 — 2 weeks for parents on death of child under 18 or stillbirth from 24th week. No general bereavement statute
- France: 3-5 days for close family (Article L3142-1)
- Germany: Often through collective agreements; no general statutory entitlement
- Spain: 2 days for close family (extended for relocation)
- Italy: 3 days (Article 4 of Law 53/2000)
- US federal: None. Some states (Oregon, Illinois, and California since 1 January 2023) mandate bereavement leave for state-covered employers
- Canada: Varies by province; typically 3-10 days unpaid with some paid days
- Australia: 2 days paid compassionate leave per occasion (National Employment Standards)
What makes a good bereavement policy
- Flexible definition of "family" — include domestic partners, chosen family, in-laws
- Generous timeframe — at least 5 paid days for immediate family is competitive globally
- Travel allowance — additional days if the deceased was abroad or far away
- Phased return support — flexibility for the first 1-2 weeks back
- Inclusion of pregnancy loss — significant employee-relations issue if absent
- No required documentation — asking for a death certificate is hostile and unnecessary in most cases