So Your Pet Goldfish Kicked the Bucket (or Worse): How Much Time Off Do You Get in California?
Let's face it, life throws curveballs. Sometimes those curveballs come in the form of unfortunate news about a loved one. But fear not, Californians! The Golden State, in its infinite wisdom, understands that during these tough times, you might need a little time to, you know, not be at work. Enter the glorious world of bereavement leave.
But First, How Dead is Dead? (Don't worry, it gets lighter from here...)
California law offers bereavement leave for the passing of a close family member. This includes your spouse (or domestic partner, 'cause California's pretty chill like that), parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and even in-laws (because let's be honest, sometimes they feel like family anyway).
Not sure if your goldfish qualifies? Sorry, buddy. This is for the two-legged (or finned, if it was a particularly impressive goldfish) kind of loved ones.
The Nitty-Gritty: How Many Days Can You Take Off?
Here's the good news: California mandates that most employers with at least five employees offer up to five days of bereavement leave. That's right, five whole days to wallow in your sweatpants, eat your feelings in ice cream (or a healthy alternative, if that's your thing), or whatever helps you process your grief.
Here are some additional points to keep in mind:
- This is unpaid leave, but you can totally use your accrued vacation days, sick leave, or other PTO (Paid Time Off) during this time.
- You can take the five days consecutively or spread them out, whichever works best for you. Just make sure you take them within three months of the loved one's passing.
- Your employer might ask for proof of the death, like a death certificate or obituary. Totally reasonable, they just gotta make sure Fluffy the cat isn't faking Uncle Fred's demise for an extra-long nap (because we've all been there, Fluffy).
Now, some things to avoid:
- Don't use your bereavement leave to, you know, go to Tahiti. It's for grieving, not gallivanting.
- Don't try to extend your bereavement leave by claiming your goldfish died again. They'll see right through that, Kevin.
Look, losing someone is tough. California just wants to give you a little breathing room to deal with it. So take advantage of this benefit, use those days however they best help you through this difficult time, and hopefully, you'll be back to your shining self in no time.
