It is important that employees inform their employers in a timely manner about their bereavement leave, and the parties decide its arrangement since bereavement leave is a right to a leave of absence from paid employment.
Announcement and arrangement of bereavement leave
Employees who use their entitlement to bereavement leave shall inform their employer as soon as possible. If a parent wants to change the arrangement of bereavement leave already announced, the parent shall inform the employer at least one week before the start date of the bereavement leave. Click here to obtain the announcement form*
An employee shall have the right to take the entire bereavement leave in one period. By agreement with their employer, it is though permitted to divide the leave into periods and/or take it alongside reduced employment ratio. Bereavement leave can though never be taken for a period less than two weeks at a time.
If employers cannot accept the employees’ proposed arrangement of bereavement leave, they shall, after reaching an agreement on other arrangements, notify of them within one week. This shall be done in writing and reasons specified for the new arrangement. If parties do not reach an agreement, employees always have the right to take their entire bereavement leave from the start date they decide.
