Are Employers Required to Pay for Bereavement Leave?
Pennsylvania laws provide you a pathway to take time off work for a variety of reasons. For instance, in the case you are taking care of a sick family member or recuperating from labor, you might have an option to leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
In spite of the fact that Pennsylvania does not have its own family and medical leave law, it expects employers to give employees time off for military service and jury obligation. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives qualified employees the option to take as long as 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year to focus on a genuinely sick relative, bond with a newborn, or handle certain reasonable issues emerging from a relative’s military service.
It is expected that businesses give workers up to 26 weeks off to aid a relative who endured or exacerbated a genuine sickness or injury while serving in the military. Under the military family leave provision, employees can take leave to help a broader set of family members, including siblings, grandparents, and cousins, if they are next of kin to an injured service member.
While some states provide additional leave for a variety of reasons, Pennsylvania does not extend that provision for any further family members or medical leave rights past what the FMLA permits.
When an employee takes leave from work due to the death of a family member or someone else, that is bereavement leave. Employees usually use the time to mourn, handle affairs left behind by the deceased, and attend the funeral. There are no federal laws that state employers need to provide paid or unpaid leave for bereavement leave. Still, employers may have a policy in place to deal with this unforeseen circumstance. In this case, employers must fulfill bereavement leave policies that are part of individual employment deals or collective bargaining agreements.
In Pennsylvania, bereavement leave is taken by employees due to the death of an immediate family member in order to grieve and sort out associated affairs after a loved one has passed
State Laws on Jury Duty and Voting
Employees in the state are allowed to serve on a jury without fearing that their job is in jeopardy, however, jury duty time off is unpaid. There are rules for exempt employees who are paid in salary unless they did not work for that week.
While many states ensure an employee’s right to take time off work to vote, which can constitute paid time off, Pennsylvania is not among them. Those who have questions regarding their employment rights should contact a lawyer.
Philadelphia Employment Lawyers at Sidkoff, Pincus & Green P.C. Protect Workers’ Rights
As an employee, your rights are protected under the law, and that includes the right to take during a leave from your job to deal with a family emergency. If you feel your employer has reneged on your rights, contact our Philadelphia employment lawyers at Sidkoff, Pincus & Green P.C. We help employees get fair and just treatment in the workplace. For an initial consultation, contact us online or call us at 215-574-0600. Located in Philadelphia, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.