Bereavement Policy

[evo1200]

I am after a second opinion on what is classed as a acceptable amount of time to pay staff (full time) for time off if they have a bereavement of sibling or parent for a small company with about 5 employees.

 

[craiga1971]

You need to work out how many days you will pay and how many days they can take unpaid. Also the relationship to the one who has died. If a child dies you'll probably find that they could be signed off for months with depression, etc..

Need to factor all of that in.

Craig

 

[evo1200]

I have no objection to staff wanting more time off unpaid but where do you draw the line at paying them. The bigger the company the easier it is to swallow the cost.

What are other forum members expirenances of companies they have worked for or run on how much paid leave is given.

 

[patientlady]

I am after a second opinion on what is classed as a acceptable amount of time to pay staff (full time) for time off if they have a bereavement of sibling or parent for a small company with about 5 employees.

Has this happened or you just being prepared! In a small co of 5 employees, perhaps it would be better just to talk to the individual after a reasonable amount of leave and come to an agreement. Its a very difficult time for you and the bereaved...

 

[tony84]

When i worked for a bank, they gave a lad (who was 19) about 6 months because he was young and didnt speak to his mum so he had loads to sort out. But i think that was most of an exception than the rule.

Not the best answer but i suppose it gives you an idea as to the maximum?

 

[deniser]

When I have worked in big firms we used to get a week for a parent or a sibling. This was generally adhered to except in cases of suicide or murder when each case was dealt with individually.

Having said that, some people only took a day off for the funeral but that was more for older people where the death came as no surprise.

 

[Philip Hoyle]

Nothing cast in stone, but for very small businesses, my experience seems to suggest guidelines of:-

1. Funeral day only for non-household family members, i.e. aunts, cousins, etc,
2. Up to and including day of funeral for parents, & siblings,
3. Up to several weeks for spouse or children.

Of course, also depends on cause, i.e. expected/natural causes generally less, but murder/accident etc probably longer.