Funeral Leave Question

[pashko]

What is the name of your state? California

Hello,
My grandfather passed away and I needed two days off from work and let them know why. I took my two days, put in my timecard as 'Funeral Leave' and at the end of the week, it was approved. Now a week later, when my check arrives, I get my full pay, but they went back into our electronic time card system via the web, and changed my two funeral days to two sick days. Now I am down two sick days for the rest of my work year (Aug. 2005). Is this normal practice? Also, how many days, if any, does anyone get for a family member in California??

Wondering,
Pashko

 

[cbg]

Nothing in the law of any state requires an employer to provide any bereavement time at all, paid or unpaid.

I don't know how common a practice it is to take this out of sick time (as opposed to personal or vacation time, if the company does not provide bereavement time) but it is not illegal.

 

[pashko]

I didn't think there was an amount.... But after I put down 2 days of funeral/bereavement and signed my timecard, then they approve, then they go back in a week later and change it to sick time and then re-sign it for me and re-approve it without letting me know. This doesn't seem right/legal to me.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

If you work for a large cooporation check in your employee benefits binder, or with you union if you have one. What is your sick leave policy? It is possibly it was approved and it didn't follow company policy and was changed to accommodate the time off, however if you actually have a funeral policy and your time care was changed that could be a problem. I used to work for a large coorporation where whole groups used to take off for funderals even when they were not related, and the policy only covered relatives, but you didn't have to provide proof, others require proof like a rememberence card ot obituary.

 

[cbg]

They approved you to take leave and you took leave. I'll bet they didn't specify that it would be PAID leave. Assuming you are non-exempt, there is nothing in Federal law or the law of any state that requires them to pay you for time you did not work. Would you have preferred to keep the sick leave intact and take those two days unpaid?

 

[pashko]

No they approved it as funeral/bereavement leave, as I put it my timecard and was approved so, and I also took 2 days for my grandmothers funeral about two years ago and was paid for it as well. And yes, I would have taken LWOP instead. In fact my whole point is... After I sign it, they approve it. Then how can they go in a week later, change it to sick time, sign the change in my time card in my name and not even tell me about it. They signed something I was supposed to sign. If this was a paper document, wouldn't this be some kind of forgery or something.

 

[cbg]

What happened two years ago is irrelevant. Company policy could EASILY have changed in that time.

Have you asked them about this? It's not outside the realm of possibility that it's a clerical error. If they say it's not, you might want to tell them you'd prefer unpaid time and see if they'll try to work it out with you.

 

[FRISKOBOI]

California

hey, i work in california also. It depends where you work and what kind of rules they have. My work place is you can request the day off or call off for me because i am the supervisor there. As long as u bring me like a letter saying you attend your funeral and all and i keep that in record. BUt in california all company has different rules about family leave, sick day, vacation time etc.

I also was pay 60 hrs for vacation. It was sign and approve by HR and manager. What do you know 6 weeks later they said i was only entitled 40hrs. So the pass paycheck they started to deduct my paycheck. So i'm looking around to see if that his illegal to do because i didn't agree or sign anything saying that they can deduct my money from my check.

 

[FRISKOBOI]

bereavement time

California your suppose to get up to three days with Pay for if someone pass away in your family

 

[cbg]

And what law says that?

 

[Beth3]

Ditto. No States require an employer to extend paid bereavenent leave, not even California. Just because many employers have a policy that they will extend three days of paid funeral leave does not mean that there's a law that requires they do so.

Please cite the law you're referring to fisko.