Bereavement

Bereavement is a category of leave for employees who experience the death of a close friend or relative. Most often, employees use bereavement time to grieve, to prepare for a funeral, or to complete the many small tasks that come up when taking care of an estate.
 
An effective bereavement policy will make it clear to employees what to expect after a death. It should clarify the difference between bereavement, sick leave, and vacation time, both in your handbook and in your manager training. Many employers offer three days’ leave to prepare for a close family member’s funeral or one day to attend the funeral for an extended family member. You can use this standard as a base for offering more generous policies, or if your organization can’t offer this basic time, you can develop an explanation for why the reduced leave is necessary.