Page 9 | How long is acceptable to be off work

Zov · 10/03/2026 13:26

shortsout · 10/03/2026 11:21

After losing a grandparent?

None.

There is no statutory right to paid bereavement leave for a grandparent in the UK, but employers typically allow 1 to 5 days of compassionate or bereavement leave, often at their discretion.

Many employers these days, will not allow a single hour off, not even for the funeral, and you will be expected to use annual leave.

Sounds like your DH works at such a place. I hope everything is OK for him @shortsout and I am sorry to hear of the death.

Mischance · 10/03/2026 13:24

I had none. Just time off for the funeral.

Mariamerryweather123 · 10/03/2026 13:24

My work policy is up to 3 days paid (5 days if they brought you up and you view them as you would a parent) including funeral attendance. Line managers have discretion to approve additional paid special leave if required and appropriate. This would be a maximum of 5 additional days.
Pretty decent company.

Alpacajigsaw · 10/03/2026 13:23

shortsout · 10/03/2026 11:44

Dh lost his granddad on Thursday and took Friday off and then had the weekend home anyway, he also took Monday off and went back this morning but his boss has asked for a meeting tomorrow morning and he’s worried it will be about this.
I was wondering if people thought that was reasonable? Or not?
My concern is for his job really.

They’d be a bit arseholish to sack someone for 2 days off, but that doesn’t mean they won’t. How long has he worked there?

Toomuchprivateinfo · 10/03/2026 13:23

One day to attend the funeral.

Unless there are circumstances such as they brought you up instead of your parents.

bringthewashingin · 10/03/2026 13:21

Heylittlesongbird · 10/03/2026 12:29

One place I worked I had to take it off as annual leave.

Another place I had the day after off (parents were flying back from abroad so needed to be around to talk to them) and the day of the funeral.

Both NHS.

I had to take an AL day for my mother’s funeral!! She died on a Sunday, 3 days bereavement (M/T/W) funeral was on Thursday!

Alpacajigsaw · 10/03/2026 13:21

Maybe a day or two and then a day for the funeral, unless your work offers more

Frenchsticky · 10/03/2026 13:19

I recently lost a grandparent and so did my husband. Fell over Christmas so no days off but I was given CL for both funerals (3 days). My husband was given 2 days for his GP and used annual leave for my GP's funeral.

user2848502016 · 10/03/2026 13:18

I wasn’t entitled to any compassionate leave when my grandparents died, I had to take annual leave for the funeral. If I had been unable to work because I was upset it would have had to be sick leave.
If you’re asking how much time is acceptable, that would really depend how close you were and if the death was expected. I was upset when my grandad died because although he was in his 80s he was well and living at home until he died and it was unexpected, also I was quite young so had a a couple of days off uni I think. Didn’t feel like I needed any time off for my other grandparents because they were older and had been unwell.

x2boys · 10/03/2026 13:17

Talkingtomyhouseplants · 10/03/2026 12:21

Three DAYS for a sibling or your 21 year old son who died tragically in a car accident. That’s awful! I would expect someone to have at least a fortnight off for a sibling and probably a month for a child regardless of age.

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I imsgine in those circumstances most people would get signed off sick .

PuzzledObserver · 10/03/2026 13:15

When I worked at a place which had a policy, it was compassionate leave (don’t know how much as it never happened) for spouse, parent, child and sibling only.

I had to take annual leave for my grandparent’s funeral…. and my infant niece’s.

purplecorkheart · 10/03/2026 13:14

BotterMon · 10/03/2026 13:12

Unless he is the only person to be able to organise all the paperwork following a death, the Monday was unnecessary.
Usually GP is day of funeral only but most companies will agree to an additional day unpaid.

This, the Friday most companies would understand but taking the Monday seems like he wanted a long weekend.

Figgygal · 10/03/2026 13:12

I had the day as needed to travel back to family then day of the funeral with my only GP left whilst I was working age
Everyone is different though

BotterMon · 10/03/2026 13:12

Unless he is the only person to be able to organise all the paperwork following a death, the Monday was unnecessary.
Usually GP is day of funeral only but most companies will agree to an additional day unpaid.

ShortColdandGrey · 10/03/2026 13:11

5 days if you are organising the funeral. 1 day special leave paid if you are not and another one for the funeral.

NobodysChildNow · 10/03/2026 13:11

For a grandparent: none. We would be given one day for the funeral as compassionate leave.

backtoworkback2reality · 10/03/2026 13:10

backtoworkback2reality · 10/03/2026 12:23

I think it's one of those things that really depends - I got the call about my granddad at work on a Friday lunchtime (it was expected) and my manager told me to go home, I would have gone back on the Monday but had a/l already booked in. I then had a day off (compassionate leave) for the funeral a couple of weeks later. But I have a friend who was practically raised by her grandparents and would have needed more time.

I don't think the time your DH has taken unreasonable, but if it were a member off my team I'd want to chat to them on their return to to see how they are.

Thinking back - for the same grandparent my cousin (teacher) had to beg just for one day off to go the funeral, but my DH asked for the day as a/l and was told he could take it as compassionate leave even though it wasn't his gp (he only told them it was a funeral so they'd definitely let him take it)!

Cantbebotheredwithchores · 10/03/2026 13:09

Day of death/leading up to death as I was with them when they deteriorated. I then the day after (after being up all night with them) and then the day of the funeral.
i work shifts so if I was off I went to the funeral directors, other times I had to work and my sis spoke on behalf of me.

SuziQuinto · 10/03/2026 13:09

nomas · 10/03/2026 13:05

It's also possible that his boss just wants to check in with him and see if he's ok?

My manager did that, I would think less of a manager who doesn't do this.

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Yes, I'm thinking the same. Probably just a wellbeing check.

x2boys · 10/03/2026 13:08

GardenGaff · 10/03/2026 11:26

A couple of days, plus a day for the funeral.

Although when I worked in the NHS one of my line managers rinsed it for 6 months with full pay after the death of their grandparent.

The NHS has a blanket policy which applies to all staff i assume your line manager was signed off sick?

ParmaVioletTea · 10/03/2026 13:06

Friday was reasonable. And a day for the funeral, but taking the Monday off as well? Unless there are extenuating circumstances, it looks like he just had a nice long weekend.

Badbadbunny · 10/03/2026 13:06

A few days I'd say plus the day of the funeral, unless you were "super-close", i.e. if you'd been brought up by the grandparent instead of your own parent.

Comefromaway · 10/03/2026 13:05

Forestgreenblue · 10/03/2026 13:04

I do believe HR law states 5 working days when it is the death of an immediate relative but up to ten working days if the death is in another country and travel/funeral arrangements have to be accommodated for.

For the period of time that has been taken off, I would say that’s reasonable

There is currently no legal entitlement at all unless it is for your child under 18. This is changing in 2027 and there will be an entitlement to up to 5 days unpaid.