Bereavement leave law changes
Law changes mean that Employees are now entitled to take 3 days bereavement leave if they or their partner have suffered a miscarriage or stillbirth, or in some cases, where the employee is directly affected by someone else’s loss.
Bereavement leave gives an employee time to grieve and take care of matters related to the loss of a family member. Losing a baby is a very hard & challenging time for both the parents to be and extended family members. Miscarriages can happen at any stage in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and up to 20 weeks. Losing a baby after 20 weeks is considered a still birth.
Employees are eligible for 3 days bereavement leave after 6 months of employment, employees are not required to produce proof of pregnancy, miscarriage, or stillbirth. The employee is allowed to take their bereavement leave at any time and for any reason that relates to the death or loss, this covers also casual workers if they have worked an average of at least 10 hours a week and at least one hour a week or 40 hours a month.
Bereavement leave entitlement for the loss of an unborn child covers more than just the biological parents to be. Want to know more or need guidance understanding your entitlements? – give us a call, we can help.
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