What is bereavement leave?
Bereavement leave is a type of paid time off granted to an employee following the death of someone dear to them. Bereavement leave is intended to give an employee some time to cope with the trauma of losing a loved one.It is a non-scheduled leave and requires an employee to inform the employer about a death in the family immediately. Organizations aren’t under obligation to provide the option of bereavement leave to employees, but several make this option available as a goodwill gesture.Not to be confused with:
compassionate leave
Compassionate leave is a paid leave that an employer sanctions when an employee deals with a sensitive personal issue.
sick leave
Sick leave is a type of paid leave that an organisation sanctions if an employee is unwell or is taking care of someone who is ill.
Not to be confused with:
How can HRs make applying for bereavement leaves easier?
Be compassionateBusinesses need to be considerate of employee well-being, and especially so when they are grieving. HR teams should extend a respectful tone and give adequate support to the employees who apply for bereavement leaves.Maintain flexibilityNot everyone deals with the loss of a loved one in the same way. While some people like to reflect in seclusion, others like to carry forward as if nothing happened. Employers must ensure that bereavement leave is a flexible leave that allows employees to take time off as is convenient for them. In the case of such leave, there is no single rule that can benefit all.Be considerate of their workloadWhen employees return to work after losing a close one, they might still be grieving. Employers must be considerate of the workload that an employee faces post such a leave. Making a temporary change to the employee’s duties and/or offering them flexible working hours might make things easier.
