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Bereavement - the period after someone has died in which people who cared about them are grieving.

Cynthia stared at the email draft, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. The office was silent, her coworkers long gone for the evening, leaving her alone with the hum of the fluorescent lights and the weight of her mother’s absence.

Her mother had been her anchor. Through months of chemo, sleepless nights, and a rollercoaster of emotions, Cynthia had juggled her full-time job and caregiving with a resilience she didn't know she had. But now, with her mother gone, she felt untethered. There was no more schedule of appointments, no more pharmacy runs—only silence and grief.

She read over the email again: Subject: Request for Bereavement Leave.

The company had been accommodating at first. She used up her sick days attending doctor’s appointments and caring for her mother. Her vacation days vanished with each emergency that cropped up. She feared they'd see this as just another ask, another inconvenience.

Would they understand? Could they?

Her chest tightened as memories of her mother flashed—her laughter, the way she whispered, “You’re stronger than you think.” Cynthia clenched her fists. I have to try, she thought.

She took a deep breath and wrote:

"Dear HR, I am reaching out to formally request bereavement leave following the recent passing of my mother due to stage 4 breast cancer. This time would allow me to process this loss and attend to the necessary arrangements. I deeply appreciate your consideration during this difficult time."

She hit send before doubt could creep in.

As the message disappeared from her outbox, Cynthia closed her laptop. Whatever happened, she had done what she needed—for herself, for her mother’s memory. And maybe, just maybe, they would see her not as a burden, but as a grieving daughter in need of grace.

Let’s start with what’s legally required as an employer:

• Federal law

  The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to pay for time off to attend a funeral. 

• State laws

  Only a few states require employers to provide bereavement leave, including: 

  • California: Employers with at least five employees must provide up to five days of bereavement leave for the death of certain family members. 

  • Illinois: Employers with at least 50 employees must provide bereavement leave benefits to eligible employees. 

  • Maryland: Employers with at least 15 employees who grant paid leave must allow employees to use this leave for bereavement. 

  • Oregon: Employees of businesses with at least 25 employees may be entitled to up to two weeks of unpaid bereavement leave. 

  • Washington: Requires employers to provide bereavement leave. 

Some companies may offer more bereavement leave for immediate relatives than for extended relatives. Employers may also allow employees to use other paid time off, such as vacation time or sick days, as additional bereavement leave. 

Welcome the latest HospicePass partner:

Overview: Bereave is a bereavement benefit that is revolutionizing employee bereavement support. A platform offering exclusive employer-sponsored bereavement services, ‘how to’ guides, manager playbooks, HR training & more.

From counseling services and estate settlement to memorial planning and grief content, their platform provides a range of resources to make the journey, a little easier for grieving employees.

Solution: Bereave launched a two-sided platform that combines manager training and HR & Manager tools to support teammates in moments of loss, giving them playbooks and frameworks for delivering deep, long-tail support for these employees. Employers will be able to deliver guides and resources to employees for their own navigation.

Why is this so important in hospice care?

Glad you asked.

Think about this for a moment. Your associates, the ones performing the services of “care” under your roof experience death daily. Not necessarily the loss of a family member, but the loss of the people they care for each and every day.

Your hospice nurses, your social workers, your spiritual advisors, and your case managers, require access to bereavement services more than the average person. Our careers are based on building relationships with people quickly. Understanding their wishes, dreams, bucket list items is critical to our success as hospice professionals.

The challenge is - every relationship that is built - ends with a death.

Hence the importance to support the ones dedicating their careers to hospice.

Gloria sat on the edge of her father’s empty bed, clutching his favorite book to her chest. The house was too quiet now as if even the walls mourned him. Her father’s passing after months of battling a terminal illness left her not only heartbroken but overwhelmed by the daunting task of planning his farewell.

“I don’t even know where to start,” Gloria admitted, tears brimming as she spoke to Judy, her father’s hospice nurse.

Judy’s presence had been a source of calm throughout this journey. With a warm smile, she said, “It’s okay to feel lost, Gloria. This is why we’re here to help, even now.”

She pulled out a brochure and handed it to Gloria. “Our hospice offers a bereavement service. They’ll guide you through every step—from memorial planning to grief counseling. You don’t have to do this alone.”

Gloria scanned the brochure. It offered resources for arranging services, writing obituaries, and even connecting with support groups. Relief washed over her as she realized she had a lifeline in the chaos.

“Thank you,” Gloria whispered.

Judy nodded. “Your father’s farewell will be as dignified and loving as the life he lived. And we’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Bereave also offers hospice agencies the tools and ability to provide an essential service for the families of the loved ones you have cared for. Outsourcing bereavement services can help your hospice provide a compassionate service you can trust while driving efficiencies internally and increasing survey score results.

Expanding your service offerings increases the value of your hospice and will impress your referring partners.

Download below for additional information on how Bereave can help your hospice.

HospicePass Partners that make your service offering even better: