Bereavement Leave
Definition of family member
| If you are… | A covered family member is… |
|---|---|
| Exempt staff | Your spouse, same or opposite sex domestic partner, child, parent, sister, brother, grandparent, or grandchild Your spouse’s or registered domestic partner’s child, parent, or grandparent Those persons in a “step” relationship |
| Faculty | Determined by your collective bargaining agreement |
| Classified Staff | Determined by your collective bargaining agreement |
| Non-represented Classified Staff | Defined by Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 357-01-172 and 357-31-250 |
Requesting bereavement time off
You must take bereavement time off in full-day increments.
Human Resources may require verification of the family member’s death.
For campus staff:
To request bereavement time off, follow your department’s usual request procedures by notifying your supervisor and make the appropriate time off request in TLR.
Using other leave types for bereavement
Speak to your supervisor if you would like to use another type of leave for bereavement or condolence purposes. You may be able to use sick or other time off if:
- Your loved one is not covered by your employment program’s or collective bargaining agreement’s definition of family member
- The bereavement time off entitlement time does not adequately cover your bereavement obligations, such as having to travel a long distance
Bereavement time off during probationary or trial service period
You are eligible to take time off for bereavement during your probationary but your probationary period lengthens by the number of bereavement days you take.