Share this article

Copied!

11 Companies that Offer Bereavement Leave

Many companies offer bereavement leave as a way for employees to take time off work to grieve a loss and handle logistics around a death. This article will go over some of the basics of bereavement leave, some of the biggest companies offering bereavement leave, and what to expect from standard bereavement leave, should you ever need to request time off for this difficult time.

What is bereavement leave?

Bereavement leave's definition (according to Dictionary.com) is "time off from work after a close relative dies". While this definition states a close relative must pass in order to qualify for bereavement leave, the meaning of this type of leave shifts from company to company. Your company may allow you to take time off only for close relatives, anyone you consider a friend, or may offer no bereavement leave policy at all -- it depends entirely on your company and their policies. Knowing what typical bereavement leave looks like can help you advocate for yourself if you find yourself in a situation where you need time off following a death when none is being provided by your company.

How long is standard bereavement leave?

The average bereavement leave policy is 3-5 days. This means that if you experience the death of an immediate family member, such as a parent or spouse, you can take three to five days off from work with pay on average. Very few companies offer more than six days of bereavement leave, even for a close relative or immediate family member.

Who is considered immediate family for bereavement leave?

The term "immediate family" typically refers to a spouse, parent, child, or sibling, but this can differ from company to company. Some companies may also consider in-laws and grandparents as immediate family members for the purpose of bereavement leave. Asking your employer who they consider to be immediate family for the purposes of bereavement leave is the best way to know for sure who is covered under your company's bereavement leave policy.

Is bereavement leave paid?

This answer also differs from company to company, but typically, the answer is yes. Companies will either offer paid bereavement leave or unpaid bereavement leave, depending on their policies. Some companies that offer unpaid bereavement leave will allow employees to use paid time off (PTO) days or vacation days in order to take time off following a death.

Knowing your company's bereavement leave policy is the best way to know for sure what to expect in terms of pay if you need to take time off for a death in the family.

What are the relevant bereavement time off laws?

At this time, there are no federal laws regarding employees being guaranteed any type of unpaid or paid leave, including bereavement leave. Oregon and California are the only states that require employers to provide bereavement leave, meaning the overwhelming majority of companies can choose to either offer this as a benefit or not offer it.

How to ask for bereavement leave

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to take bereavement leave, the best way to go about it is to talk to your HR department or to your manager at your company. Here are some steps to take before having this conversation:

1. Look over your company's benefits statement, policies, or employee handbook to see if bereavement leave is offered.
2. If your company does offer a bereavement policy, follow the outlined steps provided by your company or start the conversation as soon as possible with HR or your manager.
3. If your company doesn't offer a bereavement benefit, try to keep in mind that standard bereavement leave is 3-5 days off. Let your employer know that you've recently lost a loved one and would like to take some time off to handle things and grieve the loss. You can offer this standard bereavement time as a ballpark or as a foundational point to negotiate some time off with your employer.
4. Gather and provide proof, if needed. Be prepared to need to provide service information or an obituary as proof of the passing of a loved one.

If your company doesn't offer bereavement leave and you're worried about asking for it, here is how you can phrase this request:

• "Hi [Manager Name], my [relation / family member] passed away [this weekend / this week / date] and I need to handle a few things. Does our company have a bereavement leave policy? If not, is it possible for me to take some time off?"

It's also important to keep in mind that you may not be able to take as much time off as you need or want, even if your company does have a bereavement policy in place. It's important to be understanding and respectful of your company's policies when making a request for bereavement leave, but to also know your limits and advocate for yourself when needed.

What companies offer bereavement leave?

While there is no federal law that requires companies to offer bereavement leave, some companies do offer this benefit to their employees. Here are some major companies that offer generous bereavement benefits for their employees, with at least two weeks of bereavement leave given to each employee.

1. Adobe - Employees of Adobe are given up to 20 working days (paid), per year, of bereavement leave.
2. Airbnb - Airbnb offers at least two weeks of bereavement leave, in addition to other PTO options.
3. BASF - BASF employees are able to take 80 hours (or 10 days) of paid time off when they lose an immediate family member.
4. Facebook - Facebook offers a bereavement leave of up to 20 days of paid time off for the loss of an immediate family member and up to 10 days of paid time off for the loss of an extended family member.
5. General Mills - General Mills offers a very generous bereavement leave policy, giving employees up to four weeks of paid time off after the death of a family member.
6. Intel - Originally offering up to 1 week of PTO for bereavement, Intel has increased their bereavement leave to up to 2 weeks of paid time off.
7. Levi Strauss - Employees at Levi Strauss are offered up to two weeks of paid time off after losing a family member (which includes pregnancy loss).
8. Lyft - Lyft offers employees up to two weeks of paid time off after suffering a loss.
9. MassMutual - Employees working for MassMutual are given 15 days of paid time off to grieve the loss after losing a loved one – the loss does not have to be a family member and is defined by the employee taking the time off.
10. Mastercard - Mastercard offers their employees 20 days of paid time off for those who have lost a child, domestic partner, or spouse.
11. SurveyMonkey - SurveyMonkey offers employees the same package that Facebook does – 10 days of PTO for the loss of an extended family member and 20 days of paid time off for an immediate family member.

These companies are just a few of the many that understand how important it is for employees to be able to take the time they need following the loss of a loved one. If you're interested in learning more about bereavement leave policies at specific companies, Glassdoor offers insight on the 'Benefits' tab of many companies with reviews of their offered benefits.

It's important to remember that even if your company doesn't have a formal bereavement policy, you may still be able to take time off following the death of a loved one. Talk to your HR department or manager about what is possible and respectful given the circumstances.