Bereavement LeavePurposeThe purpose of bereavement (funeral) leave is to provide paid time off for eligible staff members who have had a death in the family. The university provides a bereavement leave benefit to staff members in recognition of the fact that personal adjustment is necessary in the event of a death in one's family. The immediate family for this purpose includes: spouse, child (including foster child and step-child), parent (including legal guardian and step-parent), parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, sibling-in-law, or persons living in the same household. Eligibility and UseAll regular full-time and part-time staff members may be granted up to three (3) consecutive days off for the purpose of bereavement in the event of a death in the immediate family as defined above. Staff members in non-exempt positions are paid at their regular hourly rate, including any differential, for all regularly-scheduled work hours that fall within the up to three (3) consecutive days off for bereavement. The department head may recommend extension of bereavement leave under special circumstances (e.g., required travel, sole survivorship, estate settlement). Extension of bereavement leave must be approved by the Director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action or his or her designee. A staff member may be granted time off with pay for up to one (1) day to attend the funeral or memorial service of a relative not listed in the definition of family above. A supervisor or department head may approve bereavement leave for staff members to attend local funerals or memorial services held for university faculty or staff colleagues or students. Authorized time off to attend funerals or memorial services for others will be considered leave without pay. However, the staff member may request to use available vacation leave credits to cover the time off. Supervisors of staff members in non-exempt positions can request or approve that the time off be made up within the workweek. New staff members are not eligible for bereavement leave until after they have worked for three (3) months. Temporary staff members are not eligible for bereavement leave. To be eligible for paid time off for bereavement, staff members are expected to notify their supervisors at the earliest opportunity so that the supervisor can try to arrange coverage for the staff member's absence. A staff member who is on paid vacation leave at the time of a family member's death may be granted bereavement leave in the same manner as if the death had occurred while the staff member was working. Bereavement leave will not be granted to replace sick leave, holiday leave, or bonus day leave. Origination Date: 11/1975
Revised: 1996 | 
