Would this be bereavement leave.

[coldinbuxton]

My grandad passed away unexpectedly last week. I we were close and I cared for him for last few years. I didn't have any time off work. Funeral is next week and I informed my manager of date and they have put it down as annual leave? I thought it was me compassionate/bereavement. NHS with over 20 years service. I work part time.

Hi @doodleschnoodle is this nhs?

No sorry, just private sector. But a PP had almost identical wording for their NHS trust I think.

What do you mean there's "no such thing as special leave"? There definitely is at my work!

@coldinbuxton I worked in the Civil Service, before I took early retirement a number of years ago. Things may have changed since then, but at that time the rules around this were pretty clear. Close Family were defined in the policy and they got a longer period of time off, than those who were not so defined. So in most cases it was clear. But there was also manager discretion, for circumstances not included in the 'definitely entitled' laid down circumstances. Double check the policy, before you decide what to do?

FS company here. Official policy is up to ten days paid bereavement leave for a partner/spouse, parent, sibling, child, dependent.

Reality is, I took my grandparents funeral off as compassionate leave. It’s at manager discretion.

I worked in HR and sadly we had people who abused the policy with multiple grandparents, aunts, distant cousins etc dying at regular intervals so we had to condense the policy to the above and the rest at manager discretion.

In our company attending a funeral IS bereavement leave. But as there is no statutory right at the moment to bereavment, compassionate or special leave of any kind it depends entirely on each workplaces policy. I don't know what NHS policy is.

As far as I can see, policy is managers discretion, which I am really upset about.

I will be calling in sick the rest of the week and the stress of it all is actually making me unwell and the thought of going back to work with people who decided it shouldn't be compassionate leave. I'll also be looking for another job in a different desperate t

When I was a manager, I wouldn’t think twice about giving people compassionate leave for funerals etc. I’m NHS.

When my dbro died, they gave me 2 weeks without question. I then had another 4 weeks sick leave after trying to go back but not coping.

I think as managers it’s important to be compassionate towards employees and generally it improves retention of staff feel supported.

I hated being a manager so I left but that’s another story.

@Doyouthinktheyknow
You sound like a lovely manager. It's funny because my DSis works for NHS and to see the difference in the way managers have acted. She got given a week bereavement leave and the funeral. I just feel really sad about it, even worse that it was up to her and she has said no.

Compassionate leave is often paid actually. I used to be a senior union rep. I have had paid compassionate leave myself one time and helped others obtain it. It depends on the Employment Contract and the Policy & Procedures of the company. Unfortunately many employees don't know their rights, but worse Managers either don't know the employee's rights under policy & procedure, or choose to ignore them

I wouldn't make decisions about your job just now as you are stressed and upset. You can self certify for a week and ask GP if you need a fit note for slightly longer.

It's going to depend. I personally would explain to your manager and ask them. Thing is with grandparents is some people don't have a thing to do with their grandparents so they assume others aren't that close to theirs.

I'm sorry for your loss

When my mother died, I got signed off for 3 weeks with grief-related stress. I hadn't asked for it - I was asking for help with insomnia (which was also grief-related,) and she signed me off, saying no one can recover that quickly (I officially got 3 days.)

Yes there is, my NHS Trust has a policy which is literally called the Special leave policy.