In association with
Bereavement leave
It is always a difficult time after a loved one dies, which is why there are set entitlements for staff to take bereavement leave.
However, if you want to offer more than the mandatory support to your employees, you can also let them take more leave than they’re legally entitled to — either as annual leave or unpaid.
What you must do
After an employee has been working for you for six months, they're entitled to:
- three days' bereavement leave on the death of their:
- child
- grandchild
- grandparent
- parent
- partner
- partner's parent, or
- sibling.
- one day's bereavement leave on the death of a person outside the immediate family — this leave is decided case-by-case at your discretion.
They're allowed to take their bereavement leave at any time and for any reason that relates to the death. This also applies to casual workers, if after six months, they have worked: an average of at least 10 hours a week and at least one hour a week or 40 hours a month.
What you could do
You could also:
- offer more bereavement leave in your employees’ agreements
- offer bereavement leave to employees before they’ve been working for you for six months
- let employees take a longer period of leave — either using their annual leave entitlement or as unpaid leave.
Do you have more questions about holidays and leave?
Contact Employment New Zealand on 0800 20 90 20 or email employment@employment.govt.nz.
