Bereavement leave refers to when an employee takes time off of work to grieve and mourn the loss of a spouse, child, or close family member. There are only two states which offer some form of bereavement leave to its workers, which are Oregon and Illinois. However, New York may become the third state to offer a form of bereavement leave.
On June 19, 2018, state legislators passed the proposed bereavement leave bill, which would authorize the expansion of the recently passed Paid Family Leave Act. According to the New York State government website, the Paid Family Leave Act currently authorizes employees to receive twelve paid weeks off to bond with a newly born, adopted, or fostered child, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad on active military duty. The expansion of this act would allow for employees to take a twelve-week paid leave of absence from work to mourn the loss of a child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, grandparent, or grandchild.
If you are an employee and have questions concerning the newly passed bill, it is important to contact an experienced employment attorney who can help you understand the potential benefits. For 38 years, Steven Mitchell Sack, The Employee’s Lawyer™, has been successful in handling thousands of employment law cases and will work to protect your rights as an employee. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call (917) 371-8000 or fill out his contact form.
