In saying a week of compassionate leave for losing a parent is unfair?

[Helenwiththebigmelons]

Yes yes, life is unfair - but really, a week away from work because a parent has died? Is that all that can be granted?

I work for a logistics company as a Financial Admin, and I was told today by a colleague that this is all you get granted whilst on the topic of compassionate leave etc.

Isn't this shocking? In my last work place, my boss insisted on another colleague taking 3 weeks of fully paid leave to come to terms with things - he didn't even mention funeral arrangements.

What is your workplace policy like for compassionate leave? Perhaps I'm oblivious to some harsh realities.

heirhelp was your colleague not entitled to maternity leave?

2 days :(

We could have up to a week with pay; after that it would be annual leave, signed off as sick or unpaid leave.
But everyone is different. Some people need longer, others find the routine of going into work helps. Doesn't mean they don't care, just the way they cope

One day for the funeral at my previous workplace. But only if a parent/child/spouse.

Everything else you'd have to go sick.

We get five days paid leave for the death of a spouse, parent or child. At previous employers, it was 2-3 days, including the funeral.

Colleagues at my work place take months off, some of them six months for the death of a parent. It is taken as sick leave rather than compassionate. I took around 3 weeks when my mum died suddenly, I should have taken longer. My dh lost his dad a few weeks ago , again very suddenly and took 2 days off and a furthur couple of days for the funeral ( we had to travel 4 hours). It is just not long enugh when you have suddenly lost your beloved dad and have to deal with funeral arrangements, probate, clearing a house of 85 years worth of possessions etc. he is exhausted and stressed.

I took one hour off to take calls from hospital and DSM when my DF was very unwell, one days leave when he was home on morphine driver the day before he died and one day for his funeral two weeks later. This was all granted as compassionate leave I was told to take unpaid leave or holiday 6 weeks later when I had to go to meet his solicitor and sort out his estate as his primary executor.... Was told that couldn't be compassionate leave. Was furious.

3 days.

Work in education.

This thread has a 4 Yorkshiremen feel to it

Where I work, it's 2-3 days for a parent. And that's discretionary.

If people need more time off they are expected to take annual leave.

In a previous employer (same sector), I took a week's annual leave when my dad died as there was no compassionate leave.

I got a phone call after 3 days asking when I'd be back in the office.

That isn't enough, but frankly anything more than a week's paid compassionate leave is excessive (and I say this as someone who had lost both sets of grandparents and both my parents before the age of 25).

I had an mmc for which I ended up having a month off. Two weeks were annual leave, which happened to coincide with the scan where we learned the foetus had died, then a week off after my ERPC which the Drs in the hospital insisted on, in fact they signed me off for a week before the procedure. I then had another week after developing an infection. My work were incredibly understanding and my boss was very sensitive. I was very grateful (this was the public sector).

If my mum died in my current workplace I can't imagine I'd get much time off; she's the boss of the small business and I'm expected to take over. Not really sure how it'll all work out!

It seems such a short amount of time for an incredibly grievous time.

I dread the day my dog dies because I know it's going to be frowned upon having time off :(

It was two days in my last workplace and two days in dh current.

When fil died dh was so upset he couldn't speak on the phone to tell his workplace so I told them. I also told them dh was in no fit state to work and would be off for a week.
His employer told him they were thinking of taking disciplinary action because he hadn't told them himself and hadn't called in every day after the first two days to tell them he was taking sick leave.

They thought better of It when reminded that mental health is included in the sickness policy.

Nothing, no sick pay either

I think a week is generous.

i got a week off work when my dad died, i also had a week booked as holidays so i dont know if i would have gotten any more

when my mum goes the i will be taking all the time i need whether it be compassionate leave or being signed off

Two days, but people tend to get signed off if it's a parent/spouse as there's no option to take annual leave (lecturer).

I know someone who lost their mum and felt it in a bad bad way. She had to come back to work after 3 days and it was much too soon for her and I feel it impacted her MH. She ended up going off sick and I think about her all the time. Poor woman

"I think a week is generous"

Wondering, idly, if this poster has lost a loved parent.

I think we (local govt) get 2 days which to me, seems incredibly low. I'd need that if my dog died.

I only got 3 days full pay when my husband died. TA, so local authority. I had to take the rest as sick leave, for which the pay is an even more insulting than the regular pay.

It's so wrong.

I think. h company are very generous, it is all discretion all however there are people who have worked their entire lives there so it is also very family orientated, when a colleague passed away there was no question of their department not being allowed to attend the funeral. They are a good employer in this manner and when my df was very unwell I had three weeks (although on p/t) before I returned due to logistics of helping out elderly mother etc. Although they aren't so caring about sudden childcare/health issues and I have been made to ask for u paid leave in the past. however I guess they need to draw a line somewhere and I've been there quite a long time so they have to show some consistency. incidentally during this period of illness of df I racked up a whopper of a phone bill (long and v complicated story :) ) and it wasn't mentioned again and I didn't have to pay for it. my colleague who left data roaming on and downloaded a film whilst abroad on business did get sent the bill though 😳

Yes
I lost my beloved dad.
He collapsed and died in front of me and I failed to save him with cpr
Your point is?
Or is that not traumatic enough to make me a heartless bitch in your eyes?

Our standard is up to 5 days paid special leave in any one year, so if you lose two close relatives 3 months apart and had used all 5 days or the first bereavement you would not get anything for the second. In practice it depends on your line manager - if they make a case to HR you may get more, particularly if you show willing too eg by using some of your annual leave as well. AS a line manager I have always told my staff to take the time they need and we'd sort it out when they were fit to return, but I've also always had very good staff who I could trust not to abuse my faith in them.

I'm so sorry Badders. And please please don't think you've failed, you didn't.