HR tip: Time off for funerals

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Question:
"How much time should we allow off for funerals?"

HR tip:
The law allows employees time off work to deal with family emergencies such as bereavement but does not say how much. You need to deal with each case on its merits, though it is useful to have a framework from which to work. I suggest that your standard arrangement be a couple of days for local funerals of a close family member – spouse, brother sister, parent, child – or one or two days longer if the funeral is a long distance away. And give half a day off for other family or friends. You should allow much longer if clearly the employee is deeply grieved. And similarly if, although the dead person is not a relative, he or she raised your employee as a child.

You do not have to agree with my suggestion, but have your managers look at it and form what you and they feel is a better arrangement. Establish a clear standard but be prepared to vary it if there are good reasons for doing so. You must of course also consider the length of bereavement leave the employee will need.

Previous HR and Payroll tips:

March 2008
Redundancy – bumping

February 2008
Companion at informal warning
Advising retirement age employees of their rights
Alcohol on site
Lawful discrimination

January 2008
Reducing company car standard
The disappearing employee
Pre-employment medicals
Monitoring bullying
Controlling absence

2007 tips

2006 tips

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