Bereavement Leave, An employee is entitled to use a total of up to 104 hours (13 days) of sick leave each leave year for family care and bereavement, which include making arrangements required by the death of a family member and attending the funeral of a family member. 1 The Civil Rights Department (CRD), which enforces this right to bereavement leave, created this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to help employers and employees understand this right, which became effective on January 1, 2023. Jan 12, 2026 · Bereavement leave, sometimes called funeral leave, is a period of absence granted to employees after the death of a close family member or loved one. California's AB 1949 requires employers to provide up to 5 days of bereavement leave for the death of a family member. Learning more about them may help you understand what to do in this circumstance. Find out the duration, eligibility, pay, and documentation requirements for bereavement leave in different states. Aug 26, 2025 · Only five states currently mandate some form of bereavement leave. This time allows employees to process grief, attend a memorial service or visitation, and handle estate matters. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently announced new guidelines on bereavement leave for federal employees. Sep 26, 2025 · This chart provides a high-level overview of current and enacted bereavement leave laws in each state. At the discretion of the agency, up to 104 hours (13 days) of sick leave may be advanced to an employee, when required by the exigencies of the situation, for family care or bereavement purposes. What is bereavement leave (grievance leave)? Bereavement leave (or grievance leave) is leave taken by an employee due to the death of family member or loved one. Mar 9, 2026 · Learn who qualifies as immediate family for bereavement leave, including spouses, children, parents, and other close relatives. We’ll go over bereavement leave laws in different US states and guide you on how to ask for bereavement leave. . For further details, please see our fact sheet entitled Advanced Sick Leave. The time is usually taken by an employee to grieve the loss of a close family member, prepare for and attend a funeral, and/or attend to any other immediate post-death matters. Apr 28, 2026 · Learn about the legal and employer rights and options for time off work after a death, including parental bereavement leave, funeral leave and pay. Learn about the different types of leave options and work schedule flexibilities for Federal employees who need to attend or make arrangements for a family member's funeral. Apr 1, 2026 · What Family Members Qualify for Bereavement Leave? Most bereavement leave policies cover immediate family, but coverage for extended family, close friends, and other relationships varies by employer and state. However, depending on your state, you might be eligible for paid or unpaid leave for bereavement. Find out how to deal with grief and support employees in the workplace. Bereavement leave laws require employers to provide time off work following the death of an employee’s family member. Here, we discuss The Family Bereavement Leave Act (FBLA) entitles eligible employees to up to 2 weeks (10 workdays) of unpaid bereavement leave to attend the funeral (or alternative to a funeral) of a covered family member, make arrangements necessitated by the death, or to grieve following: the death of a covered family member, stillbirth, miscarriage, unsuccessful reproductive procedure, failed adoption (3) In addition to paid bereavement leave, the employer may approve an employee's request to use paid leave (accrued compensatory time, accrued holiday credit, sick leave, vacation leave, and/or a personal holiday) or to take leave without pay for purposes of bereavement, including loss of pregnancy. 5 days ago · Learn about bereavement leave policies, including what they are, how they work and how to request leave, with this list of frequently asked questions. By Melissa Stein, JD, Brightmine Legal Editor. Many employers have bereavement leave policies for this purpose. As an employee, you may need time away from work to grieve after the loss of a loved one, address funeral arrangements or tend to other affairs related to your loss. No federal mandate for bereavement leave exists, but proposals and expansions of laws in several states indicates a continuing trend. Bereavement Leave California law guarantees most employees up to five days of bereavement leave from work following the death of a family member. Nevertheless, there is some comfort in knowing you won't have to worry about your employment and can focus on your loved one. Jan 12, 2026 · Learn what bereavement leave is, how it works, and which states have mandated it. Find out the eligibility criteria, definitions, and references for funeral leave, military leave, sick leave, and more. In this article, we define the concept Sep 26, 2025 · This chart provides a high-level overview of current and enacted bereavement leave laws in each state. Aug 19, 2023 · Bereavement leave is perhaps the only official leave from work we all dread having. Apr 1, 2026 · Bereavement leave rights vary by state and employer — here's what you're typically entitled to and your options when no policy exists. Learn your rights and how to request leave. 3 days ago · Under US federal law, employers are not required to offer bereavement leave. c0k2, 9ningfo, dxe, 9rfi, k4yl, ovqfgh, jwx5n, pr9l, p1xfgl, esessz3,