Compassionate leave is designed to help our employees cope with the death of a close relative, deal with necessary arrangements and attend their funeral. It may also be granted where a close relative is seriously or critically ill.
This policy does not form part of your contract of employment and we may amend it at any time.
You are entitled to take paid compassionate leave of up to 28 days in any 12- month period in respect of a spouse or partner, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, step- parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, brother or sister, stepbrother or stepsister, or brother or sister-in-law.
We may exercise our discretion to grant a period of paid compassionate leave in respect of any other relative or close friend, depending on the circumstances of each case.
If you are still unable to return to work following an authorised period of compassionate leave you should contact your account manager. It may be appropriate to take a period of annual leave, subject to your account manager’s approval, or we may at our discretion grant you further unpaid leave in those circumstances.
We recognise that it may not always be possible to request compassionate leave in advance. However, where it is possible, you should make a request to your account manager via BambooHR. You should tell them the reasons for your request and the number of days leave you would like to take.
Where it is not possible to request leave in advance, you should contact your account manager as soon as possible to tell them the reason for your absence and the number of days you expect to be absent. If necessary, your Advocate or another colleague can do this on your behalf.