Bereavement Leave

Saw a news article today which raises the topic of bereavement leave entitlement/legislation.

Currently, it's a grey area. However, thinking about it (which I'm sure is the kite-flying exercise) the issue does have a varying impact on all of us.

I can't help thinking this could potentially be another burden on businesses, particularly small businesses; but, at the same time, it is as valid as mat/paternity leave/adoption leave/insert other leave "entitlements".

In a capitalist society, can we really 'afford' yet more legislation on leave entitlements? Or, as a compassionate society, can we afford *not* to? Particularly if, as a consequence, it would spiral into sick leave?

Interesting

 

Well i've never had a problem with firms i've worked for, but I would never for a second expect to be paid for the time I took off.

 

I'm not sure its a question of being able to afford it or not. I don't understand how anyone can be expected to function normally immediately after the death of someone very close.

 

And therein lies the nub of it: define "close".

Looking at the arguments put forward, if you legislate for say, parents, spouse, child, what about those who have a greater fondness, and thus a profound grief, for a guardian than a parent? A sibling as opposed to a spouse (who you may be in contention with?)

Zigs: I didn't have a "problem" with my employer (or so I thought); when I realised my mother was moribund, I kept them fully informed, asked what the leave would be. Told "as much time as you need". Fine. Didn't expect it to knock me sideways the way that it did, nor all the attention it required. However, in the meantime, boss changed, so did attitude

 

I dont think times have changed John, its your employer who has.

Never got any paid time off for such things, not even funerals.

 

I was listening to Lucy Herd on the car radio during Woman's Hour on Tuesday, talking about her campaign for bereavement leave following the sad death of her young son.

My employers have always had a policy of bereavement leave and currently there are two categories - 3 days for 'other relatives' (designed more to allow for helping with funeral arrangements or attending the funeral itself) and 10 days for 'close relatives'. In this instance 'close' relatives are defined as, "spouse/partner; child; parent; in-law or parent of spouse/partner; grandparent or other relative - where the employee is the only person who can be reasonably expected to do deal with the funeral and the estate".

OK, so yes, it's impossible to put a 'value' if you like on a bereavement. The point is you have to draw the line somewhere and our leave is given to deal with the practicalities of death. Yes, we might only get 3 days following the death of a sibling to whom we were close but 10 days for that parent we fell out with years ago, had barely spoken to since but for whose funeral and estate we are responsible, but that's just the way it is.

To attempt to 'enshrine' a specific length of leave entitlement in legislation is a nonsense and suggests that everyone is going to be affected in the same way. I doubt, if I lost Mr. F'smum or one of our daughters, that I'd ever get over it no matter how much leave I was entitled to, but I had no difficulty (when my widowed Mother died after a long and painful illness), in working and taking off the odd day here and there to deal with her estate.

Bereavement leave is there to deal with those matters which have to be dealt with, it can never be seen as a specified period of time in which to grieve.