General Chat

Can anyone advise me please? A friend of mines father has just passed away, and his employer has told him he can only have one days compassionate leave and thats for the funeral, does anyone know if this is right?

I think its up to the employer what they give. Some are very good and others, like the one you are talking about, not so good. Could take sick leave, under stress!

It does depend on the employer - my husband's employers are usually pretty good, but when his nan died, they made him take a day's holiday for the funeral! I would be inclined to do what the previous reply suggested and take some sick leave - providing of course that he gets sick pay - because 'grief reaction' is a legitimate reason for sick leave. Sending you both my condolences as well.

yes unfortunately it's usually at the disgression of the employer. a trip to the GP will probably help, get signed off for a week or two

Thanks Everyone, I'll tell him to visit his doctor, Shame his employer isnt a member of GC, he might get better treated then!

Casting my mind back four years, in the civil service there is a scale, so many days depending on relationship and definitely more for a Father than one day. When my Mum died I had a week off as I lived away and needed to do the arrangements, but i think it would normally be three days for a parent including a day for the funeral. It should be written down somewhre in his conditions of service. Unfortunately if it is a small firm he wont have much come back as they seem to get away with more than the large firms. But i agree, tell him to go sick, he should get statutary sick pay. Ann Glos

i presume you mean paid time off ? it would be written into ur contract or in the rules of the work place so they should be able to find out but some workplaces dont give any or just 2 days - one wen the person died and one for the funeral my work place is very good and gives as much as is needed you can probably judge how good they r by whether they give you sick pay too and it would be no good taking the time of as sick leave if u dont get paid - you mite as well tell them ur taking compasionate leave whetheror not u get paid

you only get statuary sick pay after 3 days

Thanks Everyone again, He does get SSP not alot but better than nothing tho, The company is small only employs about 10 people and his boss is the least compassionate person I know, hes great about other things, but hates people having time off for anything, theres a running joke there that you could be in hospital dying and he'd bring the work to you or fetch you in a wheelchair to do it!

it all depends on the employer ,but it would take me more than a day to get over my fathers death.should be at least two weeks.

most decent firms give three days for parents ,and siblings ,but you get quite a few scrooges.Myself ,if my employer said i couldnt take three for this reason ,i would take it anyway and to hell with the job,Denis.