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Bereavement Leave
For most employees there is a minimum entitlement to bereavement
leave after the first six months of continuous employment.
On the death of an immediate family
member:
The Holidays Act 2003 provides for up to three days' paid leave.
This can be taken at any time and for any purpose genuinely
relating to the death. “Immediate family members” are the
employee's spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild
or the spouse's parent.
Where there is a multiple bereavement:
The
employee is entitled to three days' bereavement leave in respect of
each death.
For example, this would mean that if an employee was to have three
"immediate family members" die at the same time, that employee
would be entitled to up to nine days' bereavement leave.
In the event of a death outside the immediate
family:
That causes a person to suffer a bereavement,
up to one day of paid leave may be taken if the employer accepts
that the employee has suffered a bereavement. In considering
whether a bereavement has occurred for that employee, the employer
should take into consideration:
• how close the association was between the employee and the other
person
• whether the employee is responsible for any aspects of the
ceremonies around the death
• whether the employee has any cultural responsibilities he or she
needs to fulfill in respect of the death.
This is a quick guide only and does not cover all
issues
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