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Policy - Bereavement Leave

Section: Human Resource Policies 
Policy Owner: Ignition633 Ministries Human Resources 
Policy Name: Bereavement Leave  
Origination Date: September 2024 
 

Bereavement Leave Policy 

Purpose:
This policy provides employees with appropriate support and leave benefits in the event of the death of a family member or loved one. 

Scope:
This Bereavement Leave Policy applies to all Ministry employees, regardless of their position or employment status. It covers provisions related to bereavement leave for the death of immediate family members, including, but not limited to, spouses, children, parents, and siblings. The policy also outlines the process for requesting leave, the duration of leave entitlement, and any additional support available. 

Definition: 
Bereavement Leave is designated time off granted to employees who have suffered the loss of a loved one, such as a spouse, child, or other immediate family member. This leave covers the necessary time to grieve, manage arrangements, attend memorials, funerals, burial services, and other related events. It also allows employees to recover emotionally before returning to work.

Immediate Family 

  • This policy defines immediate family as husband or wife, all close relatives (parents, siblings, and children), grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. It also includes in-laws of the same type, adopted parents, adopted children, legal guardians, and half- and step-relatives.  

Eligibility and Qualification:
All full-time and part-time employees are eligible for bereavement leave starting on the first day of employment. 

Leave Entitlement: 

  • Eligible employees are entitled to up to five (5) consecutive working days of paid bereavement leave per occurrence for the death of an immediate family member, as defined above. Bereavement leave will be paid at the employee's regular pay rate for the hours they would have otherwise worked during the leave period. 

  • Employees must notify their supervisor and HR for approval if additional time off is needed beyond the five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. Employees may use their accrued vacation or sick leave or request unpaid leave. If more bereavement leave days are needed, contact your HR Representative. You may need to provide proof of travel or other documents if you do not return within the respected amount of time. 

  • In cases involving long-distance travel, employees may take up to two additional days of leave with appropriate approval through HR. 

Documentation:
Employees may be required to provide documentation to support the need for bereavement leave. Acceptable documentation may include a death certificate, or obituary. 

Procedure for Requesting Bereavement Leave:

  • We understand that the loss of a loved one is often unexpected, and advance notification for bereavement leave may not always be possible. However, employees should notify their supervisor or HR as soon as possible following the loss so that leave requests can be discussed and allocated, and department coverage can be arranged. 

  • To request bereavement leave, please inform your supervisor and HR immediately. You can do this by emailing your supervisor or HR and completing a time-off request form on _____. 

  • All information related to bereavement leave will be kept confidential and shared only with those who need to know for operational purposes.  

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This policy will be reviewed annually and is subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to all employees promptly.  
For any questions or further assistance regarding this policy, employees should contact the HR department at hr@ignition633.org 

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