How long is acceptable to be off work

Friday fair enough but taking the Monday off too seems excessive. I took one afternoon off when my very elderly GM died suddenly.

Whether he needs to be concerned depends mainly on what his attendance record is like generally and how much he's trusted and valued. This is a subjective matter, not set out in law, so if there's nothing in his contract, its up to his employers to allow what they see fit.
If he is a good attender and performer, they are far more likely to be fine with it than if it's his 5th 'close bereavement' in a year and/or he regular has time off for minor illness, family emergencies etc.
It's possible they may say he has to have the days sick or unpaid leave if they don't allow compassionate leave for GPs. But unless this looks like a 'last straw' situation after repeated absence, would be unlikely to threaten his job.

It could just be a standard return to work interview

Friday/Monday does not seem unreasonable @shortsout

I wouldn't be overly concerned if he is a "decent" boss in other respects.

I took one day for the funeral but where I work now would be allowed 3 days.

Our policy is that you can take up to three days for a parent/sibling/adult child or grandparent (separate rules apply for children under 18) . This will be updated when the new employment rights act comes in. I think it is going to increase to a statutory right to 1 week unpaid (but we will still pay 3 days)

I had 3 days for the funeraI I think when my grandma died. I was in a public sector job and it wasn’t really under their policy but managers were able to use some discretion. I needed to travel and it wasn’t really doable in less time. That was nearly 20 years ago now. My current employer is private sector and includes grandparents in their ‘immediate family’ definition so you’d get up to 5 days of paid leave, and a day for the funeral. There is still loads of room for discretion. The manager may just want to go over the policy with him. If they are generally a ‘nice’ organisation it might be ok.

Honestly i don’t know with zero hour contracts. Is he able to look at their company policy? Surely any kind of bereavement leave will be detailed in there.

At the companies i have worked for, if you are off for any reason, your manager should hold a ‘return to work’ meeting with you to make sure you are ok basically.

I took a day off 2 weeks into a new role while i was still on probation, after the unexpected suicide of one of my closest friends. I actually tried to go into work in the morning and they were happy to send me home as i was crying. This was a friday I was then fine to he back at work on a monday. They also let me have the day as annual leave to attend the funeral.

A day for the funeral

In the immediate dates after I think some flexibility around face to face or difficult meetings is appropriate but I wouldn’t expect an adult to be off work for a grandparent unless they had been raised by them.

My nanna died last year - I was 32, it was hardly a surprise that a 90 year old woman died. I took a day for the funeral and missed one meeting that a colleague covered the day after as I needed to be on top form and knew I wouldn’t be.

Did he tell work that his grandad passed away?

I'd be wondering something like this too. I don't think 2 days as unreasonable OP.

Where I work, funeral day only (at managers discretion) unless it’s an immediate family member. Have to say the managers are fab and often allow people more.

I’m sure he won’t lose his job but they’d maybe check in if he’s ok and then perhaps gently explain (if this is the policy which he really needs to check before the meeting) that he had to retrospectively book AL. Unless they have a policy allowing for leave for this.

Or they might want to find out how it’s affecting him to decide if it’s AL or something like stress?

All depends on their policy really!

Depends on the exact circumstances. Personally, unless he'd had to travel a long distance, the Monday off would seem like a bit of a piss-take to me, but others may disagree. If his grandad only died on Thurs will he need to take more time off for the funeral?

Is it possible the boss wants to check in to see how he's actually doing? Are they usually a good boss?

I don’t think many places allow extra time off for the loss of a grandparent, unless there’s some specific task your DH needs to do that it’s essential be done by him.

Annual leave for the funeral in most places.

Might sound harsh but it’s the reality.

Did he consult the company’s policy before taking the time off or just say he was taking it?

We’re talking 2 days off that DH needed for mental health reasons / grief after losing his grandad. If his work have anything to say about that then it shows what they are like doesn’t it

How did he “take it off”? Was the Monday already agreed? Did he ask for last minute annual leave or unpaid, or is he just expecting it to be paid time off?

Assuming his work are aware of his loss then I’d say it’s a bit harsh for him to have a meeting about it…

I don't know. My grandparents all died long before I was born. But some people were pretty much raised by their Nan. So it depends on how upset you feel I guess.

Work can often be a welcome distraction for some while others might need several days to try and get their head round it. Or they may need to travel abroad or away for the funeral.

I think I had a few days off school when my dad died. Nobody ever asked me if I was OK when I went back. Not one teacher or kid. But that's another story...

If your employer is in any way decent it should really depend on how the loss has affected you and how you are coping with it, rather than a blanket day or two.

There is no acceptable amount of time op you just need to prioritise your health and wellbeing in that respect. It completely depends on the nature of the relationship amidst other factors. But your workplace policies may have a set rate detailed in it if that's what you're asking.

One day for the funeral. Public sector.

It's not reasonable, especially if the funeral requires travel. But that's what our contract said.

Two days off is nothing. They’re hopefully doing a meeting as a welfare check in and to show compassion.

This and a day’s annual leave for the funeral.