Bereavment for extended family??

timberflake

My Nanna passed away last Sunday and we've arranged the funeral for Monday 9th Nov. My girlfriend and I live together, so technically my Nanna was extended family to my girlfriend.

My question is, is my girlfriend entitled to a day off for the funeral or does she have to use holiday or move her normal day off around (she works in retail)? She tried to get last Monday off to be with me but her employer was having none of it, so if she is legally entitled to 1 day off say, they've technically broken the law??

I'd apprciate any help people can offer.

johnswife

Sorry about your Nanna. As far as i am aware no one is entitled to a day off for a funeral, it is up to your employer. It is compulsary for employers to give compassionate leave if someone has lost a dependent.

Perhaps they will let her have a days holiday for her to be with you.

torbrex

Not a blood relation and you are not married so she is not entitled to any time off unless she can prove that deceased had a part in her upbringing.

You would need to check for any differences in local agreements but that is the general rule of thumb used by most companies. Some managers might give time off for a funeral but unlikely to give the whole day.

Oldernotwiser

Many companies wouldn't even give you a day off for a grandmother's funeral, much less someone who's no relative. She'll need to take a day's holiday I'm afraid.

Dearsmore

When my gran died I was not given any time off.

timberflake

I thought there was a law for this? I understood that you're legally entitled to 3 days for immediate family and 1 day for extended family (as a minimum), anything above and beyond that is at the discretion of the employer? Maybe I've got it completely wrong, but as she is classed as extended family to my gf I understood that she would be entitled to 1 day?

I could be way off the mark here!

thebaroness

I agree with others who have said she is not entitled to time off. Would she be able to swap her day off with a colleague?

There's more information about employer's obligation at the directgov website:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Timeoffandholidays/DG_10026555

cazziebo

timberflake wrote: »

I thought there was a law for this? I understood that you're legally entitled to 3 days for immediate family and 1 day for extended family (as a minimum), anything above and beyond that is at the discretion of the employer? Maybe I've got it completely wrong, but as she is classed as extended family to my gf I understood that she would be entitled to 1 day?

I could be way off the mark here!

Sorry - you're way off the mark. There is no legal requirement for an employer to give paid time off for funerals. Even for immediate family, there is no right to paid leave, although many employers will give paid leave for close family.

TBH - the employer doesn't really have to grant her holiday if it doesn't fit with their schedule, or leave policy (ie must give one week's notice).

torbrex

I worked in a factory where we got 4 days leave with pay for a parent or child, 2 days for a sibling and 1 day for grandparents and evidence had to be shown within 2 weeks of the death otherwise diciplinary action was taken. For a spouses relative only time off for the funeral was given (without pay).

Oldernotwiser

timberflake wrote: »

I thought there was a law for this? I understood that you're legally entitled to 3 days for immediate family and 1 day for extended family (as a minimum), anything above and beyond that is at the discretion of the employer? Maybe I've got it completely wrong, but as she is classed as extended family to my gf I understood that she would be entitled to 1 day?

I could be way off the mark here!

No laws that I know of. The most generous companies may give you 3 days off for close relatives (spouse/parent/child) but even these wouldn't usually give more than a funeral day for a grandmother.

I really think that you're pushing it to describe your GF as a member of your grandmother's extended family!

timberflake

Ok guys, thanks for clearing that up