Do you have to pay compassionate leave?

[missdetermination]

As per title, I was wandering if you HAVE to pay for someone to attend a funeral?

I know that sounds heartless BUT just wandering what the law says....I guess the law does not state you have to actually have a heart

 

[IANL]

As per title, I was wandering if you HAVE to pay for someone to attend a funeral?

I know that sounds heartless BUT just wandering what the law says....I guess the law does not state you have to actually have a heart

I do not believe that you have to pay, they can take it as unpaid leave or as holiday. Unless you contract states that they will be paid.

I had a clause in my contracts that stated they could have three days paid leave for the death of a close relative. siblings, parents, children or blood grandparents.

You have to aks yourself how you value your employees and also have to apply any decisions fairly to all.

(I am not a lawyer or employment specialist do not make a decision based solely on my post)

 

[missdetermination]

Thank you for the reply. Thats pretty much what I had thought. Yeah the employee is valued and hence I have said I will pay for the funeral day (but not the travelling day)...this is holiday. I think thats pretty fair, as it is a grandparent. He's now lost two in the space of 2 months so pretty hard going at the moment.

 

[Employment Law Clinic]

As IANL says, no legal obligation to pay for (or even, legally anyway - for practical purposes, the decision is made for you - allowing) this time off.


With the exception of annual leave, there are only a few areas where staff are entitled to take time off - such as dependants who are entitled to time off in genuine emergencies (closure of schools recently may not have be an emergency, as there was clear notice of the strikes) - but this too does not have to be paid.


Just about the only time off an employer does have to pay for is 28 days leave.



Karl Limpert