Bereavement Leave Policy (CO)

Bereavement leave is the time off of work you grant an employee after losing a loved one. Creating a bereavement leave policy ensures that your employees are provided with the leave necessary to grieve their loss, attend the funeral, or manage the affairs related to the death of a loved one. This can be a difficult time, so establishing a bereavement leave policy can help promote employee well-being and retention and allow them the time away to focus on other matters.

This policy lays out the duration of the leave, whether it is paid or unpaid, reporting and verification requirements, responsibilities, and enforcement. It can also be customized to list which family members qualify as immediate or extended family under this policy.

This policy should be reviewed with your employee handbook and other existing employee policies to ensure consistency. It is not intended for employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement or temporary workers.