Can I be fired for taking bereavement leave?
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Can I be fired for taking bereavement leave?
An employer may not terminate the employment or lay off an employee for requesting or while on bereavement leave. Any leave days not used by an employee do not have to be paid out by the employer if employment terminates.
Do you have to show proof for bereavement?
The employee must tell the employer of the period, or expected period, of the leave. An employer can request evidence about the reason for compassionate leave (eg. a death or funeral notice or statutory declaration). If the employee doesn’t provide the requested notice or evidence they may not get compassionate leave.
Are aunts considered immediate family?
Yes, your aunt is considered an immediate family member. Immediate family is defined by our Bereavement Policy as “the employee’s spouse, domestic partner, legal guardian, son, daughter, mother, father, sister, brother, grandparents, aunt, uncle, niece and nephew, and in-laws of the same categories.”
How do employers verify bereavement?
Employers may require reasonable verification of the need for the leave. Reasonable verification for bereavement leave might be an obituary from a local newspaper, for example.
