Bereavement leave policy

A bereavement leave policy, that all employees understand before a loss occurs, can help reduce the stress of uncertainty for both the manager and the bereaved employee.

Policy elements

A clearly stated bereavement leave policy should specify:

• Length of the leave – Some organizations allow 3 to 5 days for a relative or partner and one day for someone who’s not related
• Eligible relationship to the deceased, which may include these and others:
  
  • Domestic partner
  • Parent
  • Step-parent, guardian, surrogate parent or foster parent
  • Child
  • Sibling
  • In-laws
• If the leave is paid or unpaid
• If the leave includes terminal illness or only applies in the event of death
• Other conditions, like eligibility based on length of service or a collective agreement
• Name and contact details of who should be notified when bereavement leave is needed

Implementing the policy

Implementation of the bereavement policy should include:

• Legal review of the policy, if appropriate
• Regular reviews by management to ensure the policy remains relevant
• Training for managers on how to respond when notified of a request for bereavement leave
• Communication of the policy and key messages to all employees, including senior personnel
• Providing a copy of the policy to all new employees upon hiring or transfer
• Acknowledgment in writing or by email from all employees that they’ve received and read the policy and/or amendments
• Posting of the policy and/or amendments in a prominent place where all employees will see it and have regular access to it
• Instructions to all managers about what’s expected of them in carrying out the policy – where necessary, provide training or education
• Annual discussion between managers and their staff about this policy

What’s next? Review your bereavement leave policy with all employees, perhaps as part of a lunch and learn, in a relevant meeting or in a communication delivered across the organization.

Share this webpage with those responsible for policy making in your organization. 

Additional resources

• Loss and grief. Learn about the responses to grief and ways you can cope after the death of a loved one or another significant loss.
• Sample bereavement leave policy provided courtesy of Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.