Time of for funerals - what's reasonable?

[twentypence]

4 years ago dh was refused leave to go to his uncle's funeral - his uncle was like a 2nd dad to him. he took holiday leave and they "overlooked" the fact he hadn't given the standard 7 days notice .

Tomorrow he's been allowed leave to go to his Cousin's funeral (who to be honest he hardly knew, but his dad is a bit of a mess about him dying before his sister - so it will be helpful), on Christmas eve with half the staff already missing.

The list of relations for bereavement leave is in his contract, but it seems there are no rules for just popping out to a funeral in the middle of the day.

Well you're usually talking about at least half a day out of the office for a funeral. If it really was just for 2 hours then a lot of employers would let you make up the time (assuming that the person wasn't on the "list").

Dh has just informed me that the "permission" is actually being able to take his lunch hour at a different time and work through both his paid tea breaks in order to tack them on the end of his lunch.

He'll look grand eating his butties at the back of the church.