Q: Is there a right to take time off to attend or organise a funeral?

A: There is no statutory right to paid time off to organise or attend a funeral. Some employers will have a compassionate leave policy that provides for paid time off to organise or attend a funeral. Such policies often give a discretionary rather than a contractual right to time off. However, if the right is contractual, employees will be able to rely on it to take paid time off for this purpose.

There is a statutory right to a reasonable amount of time off during working hours as a result of the death of a dependant. A dependant is an employee’s spouse, civil partner, child or parent; or a person living in the same household other than a tenant, lodger, boarder or employee. Time off for making funeral arrangements or attending the funeral of a dependant will be covered by this right. There is no right to be paid during the time off. This would be a matter for agreement between the employer and employee.