Policy number: 7.18

Policy section: Human Resources

Revised Date: January 2, 2019

1. Policy Statement

The University will provide paid bereavement leave for staff employees in the event of the loss of a covered family member.

2. Purpose

The policy establishes uniform guidelines for providing paid time off to employees for absences related to the death of a family member.

3. Applicability

The policy applies to full-time and part-time benefits-eligible employees, including full-time partial-year employees. See University Policy 7.7, Employee Classifications, for additional information.

4. Department Administrative Rules, Procedures, and Guidelines

The Department of Human Resources, under the purview of the Vice President for Business and Finance, has oversight and administrative responsibility for this policy and shall promulgate departmental rules, procedures, and guidelines pursuant to this policy. Detailed eligibility and administrative rules, procedures and guidelines can be found on the Human Resources website.

5. Eligibility

1. Eligible employees are entitled to up to three days of paid bereavement leave in the event of the death of a family member. An employee who wishes to take time off due to the death of a family member should notify his or her supervisor as soon as possible.
2. In a situation where additional time off is warranted and approved, an employee may take two additional days of accrued paid medical leave. If the employee’s accrued paid medical leave has been exhausted, the employee may use accrued vacation days. If the employee’s accrued vacation days have been exhausted, the employee may request unpaid leave not to exceed a total Bereavement Leave of five days.

6. Questions

Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Department of Human Resources at benefitsu@smu.edu.

Revised: January 2, 2019

Adopted: July 1, 2014