Time off for bereavement?

lincroft1710

Civil Service used to give 3 days paid compassionate leave (NB not A/L) and I think a further day for funeral for close relatives. For distant relatives 1 day's paid compassionate leave for funeral.

I don't whether this is still the case or whether less leave is now allowed.

mildred1978

moremore wrote: »

I have obviously got employment law all wrong. Employer that gives one of their employee 2 weeks paid offf work for bereavement of an immediate family. #The employer then tells another member of staff that he/she cannot have any bereavement leave of an immediate member...is this not discriminations.

Also, if members of staff is employed on a specific rate and then others are taken on for the same jobs are given more enhanced rate ie double rate for bank holidays and other employees are given time and half for the same bank holidays, for exactely the same job surely that is discriminations or have I got it all wrong?:o:o

Yes, completely wrong. As long as it's not on the grounds of sex, race or religion you can treat employees differently in any area. Someone might earn more, or have more annual leave, or whatever.

ILW

It was 3 days at the last place I was employed. About 20 years ago though.

Sambucus_Nigra

moremore wrote: »

I have obviously got employment law all wrong. Employer that gives one of their employee 2 weeks paid offf work for bereavement of an immediate family. #The employer then tells another member of staff that he/she cannot have any bereavement leave of an immediate member...is this not discriminations.

Also, if members of staff is employed on a specific rate and then others are taken on for the same jobs are given more enhanced rate ie double rate for bank holidays and other employees are given time and half for the same bank holidays, for exactely the same job surely that is discriminations or have I got it all wrong?:o:o

If all the white people got a month and all the black people got a week; or all the men got a month and all the women got a week; then yes. If all the hard workers got a month and all the people who skived off and threw sickies got a week, then no.

moremore

Many thanks for reply, there is nothing in staff handbook about bereavement leave, therefore manager can pick and choose that gets it. It was my brother that died suddenly and manager would not let me have any leave for funeral. Got told last week by a colleague when she was on holiday in Italy she phoned manager requesting paid leave as her uncle died the company gave her one days paid leave.

Two employees got taken on after a lot of others staff and they staff that was taken on after us got enhanced payment for bank holidays for doing the same job. But if that is the law then there is nothing can be done about it.....

Sambucus_Nigra

moremore wrote: »

Many thanks for reply, there is nothing in staff handbook about bereavement leave, therefore manager can pick and choose that gets it. It was my brother that died suddenly and manager would not let me have any leave for funeral. Got told last week by a colleague when she was on holiday in Italy she phoned manager requesting paid leave as her uncle died the company gave her one days paid leave.

Two employees got taken on after a lot of others staff and they staff that was taken on after us got enhanced payment for bank holidays for doing the same job. But if that is the law then there is nothing can be done about it.....

Although it is not against the law, it is usually good practice to have a policy on these things.

If that had happened to me, I would be asking my manager what I had done to warrant the difference in approach, and what I could do to enable the same treatment as the others were getting.

t0rt0ise

Googlewhacker wrote: »

I disagree, as long as its not discriminatory (illegal I mean) then why shouldn't better staff be rewarded more.

Because it would be bad management. Treating everyone fairly keeps the workforce happy and productive. Treat them badly including treating some better than others, will stir them up into factions with some resenting others and the whole working atmosphere breaks down and the company suffers as people don't work so well.

This is basic management psychology and pretty obvious stuff.

hcb42

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Because it would be bad management. Treating everyone fairly keeps the workforce happy and productive. Treat them badly including treating some better than others, will stir them up into factions with some resenting others and the whole working atmosphere breaks down and the company suffers as people don't work so well.

This is basic management psychology and pretty obvious stuff.

Staff will always be treated differently.

We have a policy of three days paid, and up to a week but two days therefore unpaid.

I have lost both parents in the last few years. I work excessively long hours. Neither employer (two different ones, even though the deaths were close together) docked me. How demotivating would that be, if I was working 70 hours a week the week before they died then my pay is docked because I am not fit to be in the workplace for a few days or weeks.

On the other hand if I walked in at 9am out at 5pm and carried no additional burden, I wouldnt expect to be paid for ever. It's the same with sick leave with hourly paid v salary workers in a lot of places

I also (picking up on an earlier point) appreciate there has to be a guideline in place, but I dont think I would be fit for work if I lost one of my inlaws of 25+ years - after a few days off.

Big companies and small companies can differ. I do know though that if one of my colleagues was in this awful situation, I dont think people would be moaning about unfairness, they would rally together to make sure that person's role was covered while they took the time they needed.

I am particularly compassionate under these situations, that is as I normally treat them on a case by case basis and treat people in my team the way I would want to be treated.

DaisyFlower

We are allowed 3 days (inc funeral day) if a close relative as in parent/sibling/spouse, otherwise people have to use AL or make the time up.

Two weeks for a father in law is far too long.

pinkshoes

Barebear wrote: »

What length of time is acceptable for this, he has been off for two weeks already, and how should I approach his return to work when he does?

Two weeks off work for the death of a non-relative is taking the p*ss, regardless of how good a worker they are!

I'd say 1 week paid is fair, but any time after this should be unpaid, or taken from annual leave.

When my Grandma died last year, I had to take either a day of holiday, or have a day unpaid.