Paid time off for a funeral?

[Twilightstarbright]

A friend was ranting about how unfair her employer is for not giving her paid leave for her husband’s uncle’s funeral. They weren’t close and it wasn’t an unexpected or tragic death. She does the type of job where cover will be needed (think retail/hairdresser) and her employer says she can take the time off unpaid but the paid bereavement leave covers immediate family only.

I gently said I could see their point and if she wants to go she can but it’s unpaid leave. For full disclosure, we are Jewish and they will be sitting shiva for 7 days and it’s generally accepted not everyone can be at the funeral given it’s a day or two after the death but you go to shiva to pay respects so the funeral isn’t your only opportunity to show support.

Am I being unfair in thinking her expectations are too much? What’s the policy in your workplace?

We get two days paid for immediate family with a discretionary 3rd day for next of kin. More than that would be unpaid or you would have to book holiday.

distant relative would be unpaid or holiday.

My workplace is pretty generous with paid bereavement leave, but it wouldn’t cover a spouse’s uncle.

There is some management discretion, so if the uncle lived with you or something, so it was clearly a closer relationship, then it would probably be ok’d. But in a general situation, no.

Thanks all, I suggested swapping shifts.

I do an office based role with a fair amount of flexibility so personally I’d start early, go to the funeral then work late so that I hit my 8 hours that day and my boss would be fine with that. I sympathise that her work doesn’t allow this but it’s the nature of the role.

Her husbands uncle why should she be paid

I’d get it off, but due to the nature of my work (have my own caseload) I’d have to still do the work at some other time.

Same here so parents, siblings, grandparents and PILs. However I have made some exceptions before - example one of my team used to live with her aunt (cultural) and she passed away so I gave her bereavement for that. Technically not covered in policy but felt right.

Distant random uncle. No. I’d give the option for emergency holiday though.

None of my workplaces would hsve paid for that. Immediate family only plus that of your spouse but it’s parents, grandparents and children. Uncles and cousins etc wouldn’t be paid leave. I do know thst someone got paid leave for their dog when she died though. Not contractually but as a one off gesture of goodwill for a reliable employee.

Flexi time for me, the advantage of part time work