Bereavement Leave

## Bereavement Leave

Bereavement leave (compassionate leave) provides paid time off when an employee experiences the death of a family member.

### Typical Entitlements

| Relationship | Common Duration |
|-------------|----------------|
| Spouse/child/parent | 3–5 days |
| Sibling/grandparent | 1–3 days |
| Extended family | 1 day |
| Close friend | Varies (often unpaid) |

### Legal Requirements

Few countries mandate bereavement leave by law. France requires 3 days for a spouse or child's death. The UK has no statutory paid bereavement leave except for parents who lose a child under 18 (Jack's Law: 2 weeks). In the US, there is no federal requirement, though Oregon and Illinois have state mandates.

### Employer Practices

Most employers offer bereavement leave as a company policy. Progressive companies are expanding definitions to include chosen family, miscarriage, and pet loss.