Administrative PolicyQuestions?
Policy Statement
The University provides eligible faculty and academic professional and administrative (P&A) employees with paid bereavement leave upon the death of an immediate or other family member or University colleague as defined in this policy. This leave is granted for purposes of:
- Attending the funeral, services, ceremonies, and/or interment.
- Making necessary arrangements.
- Travel related to the death.
- Bereavement time.
Excluded from coverage under this policy are academic appointments that are adjunct or clinical appointments from outside the University, graduate assistants, or professionals-in-training.
Bereavement Leave for Faculty and P&A Employees
Faculty and P&A must provide notice of absence due to the death of an immediate or other family member at the earliest possible time, and the likely length of absence from work, to the responsible administrator/supervisor.
The following chart details a faculty member's and P&A employee's eligibility and provisions related to the death of a family member or University colleague.
| Relation to Employee | Employee Appointment Eligibility | Provisions |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate Family Member | 67-100% time appointment | Up to three work days paid bereavement leave and up to two additional paid work days of leave at the discretion of the responsible administrator/supervisor and upon consideration of the funeral location (local or long distance) and other pertinent factors |
| Less than 67% time appointment | One work day paid bereavement leave. | |
| Other Family Member | Any percent time appointments | One work day paid bereavement leave. |
| University Colleague | Any percent time appointments | Reasonable paid (typically less than one day) bereavement leave time away from work to attend the funeral or service. |
In the circumstance of the death of a University colleague, leave is subject to the needs of the department as determined by the responsible administrator/supervisor and the department or administrative unit head.
Extended Absence
At the discretion of the responsible administrator/supervisor, the employee may use available vacation time and/or unpaid personal leave to accommodate absences not covered by paid bereavement leave provisions. In support of employees who experience a significant personal loss, the University strongly encourages responsible administrators/supervisors to be flexible in granting requests for additional paid (as available and appropriate) and unpaid leave time beyond the paid bereavement leave provisions.
Reason for Policy
The University provides bereavement leave for eligible employees in support of faculty and academic professional and administrative employees experiencing a significant personal loss due to the death of an immediate or other family member, and to provide for a consistent benefit and uniform application across the University. This policy gives further definition to Board of Regents Policy: Employee Work-Life and Personal Leaves.