Sangha of Auspicious Companions

A Woman Accepted a New Job, Then Her Mom Died. Her New Boss’s Response Left Her in Tears.

“Grief does not fit a 3-5 day schedule” was the caption on a photo of a family at a funeral home. Yet, 3-5 days is the average paid bereavement time for US companies, and not much better in other countries. There is hope for change. In the meantime, a few managers are finding creative ways around corporate policies. One example is of a woman who accepted a new job, then lost her mom. The manager “honored not only the job offer, but the initial start date as well. Then, he gave the woman six weeks of paid leave right off the bat, before she’d ever had a single day of work.” Other stories highlight managers giving people extended paid time off without fear of losing their jobs. “It’s the leave you hope you never have to use, but let’s be clear, it’s no vacation. Having at least a few paid days off is the bare minimum a human being needs to function after a loss.”

Be The Change

Advocate for more realistic and flexible bereavement time in your local business and government community.