Compassionate leave

Compassionate leave is granted at the discretion of the employer. The right to leave cannot be taken as automatic, particularly in the case of distant relatives.  However, it is usually offered automatically on the death of a close relative.

The Department of Health has issued guidelines on the amount of compassionate leave an employee may take on the death of a relative. These guidelines state that: 
 

Compassionate leave with pay may be granted under the following conditions: 

• A maximum of 20 working days may be granted on the death of a spouse (including a cohabiting partner), child (including adopted children and children being cared for on the basis of ‘in loco parentis’) or any person in a relationship of domestic dependency, including same sex partners.
• A maximum of five working days may be granted on the death of an immediate relative, i.e. father, mother, brother, sister, mother-in-law or father-in-law.
• In exceptional circumstances, a maximum of three days may be granted on the death of a more distant relative, if for example, an employee has to take charge, of funeral arrangements or has lived in the same house as the deceased.
• Extra days may be allowed where an immediate relative dies abroad and you have to go abroad to take charge of funeral arrangements.

Compassionate leave may not be deferred and should be taken straight away when a bereavement occurs. It is not possible to postpone compassionate leave until an employee has returned from annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave, etc.  However, all applications for compassionate leave are assessed on an individual basis.

Compassionate leave may not be deferred and should be taken straight away when a bereavement occurs. It is not possible to postpone compassionate leave until an employee has returned from annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave, etc.  However, all applications for compassionate leave are assessed on an individual basis.