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OPM.gov / Policy / Pay & Leave / Leave Administration
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Leave for Funerals and Bereavement

Fact Sheet: Leave for Funerals and Bereavement

Funeral Leave for Combat-Related Death of an Immediate Relative

An employee is entitled to up to 3 workdays of funeral leave to make arrangements for or to attend the funeral of an immediate relative who died as a result of wounds, disease, or injury incurred while serving as a member of the Armed Forces in a combat zone. If the employee provides satisfactory reasons, the 3 workdays do not need to be consecutive.

  • Armed Forces means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and includes the Reserve components, National Guard, and Air National Guard.
  • Combat zones are areas the President designates by Executive order, in accordance with section 112 of the Internal Revenue Code, as areas in which the Armed Forces are engaging or have engaged in combat. Current areas designated as combat zones can be found in IRS Publication 3.
  • Immediate relative covers a wide range of relationships, including spouse; parents; parents-in-law; children; brothers; sisters; grandparents; grandchildren; step parents; step children; foster parents; foster children; guardianship relationships; same sex and opposite sex domestic partners; and spouses or domestic partners of the aforementioned, as applicable. The list of immediate relatives for whom an employee may request funeral leave (as well as important associated definitions for the terms son or daughter, parent, domestic partner, and committed relationship) may be found in the fact sheet entitled Definitions Related to Family Member and Immediate Relative for Leave Purposes.

Note:

When an employee requests funeral leave for a combat-related death of an immediate relative, the agency may require the employee to document his or her relationship to that immediate relative. Agencies should establish consistent rules and follow the same documentation requirements for all relationships, but agencies have authority to request additional information in cases of suspected leave abuse.

References

  • 5 U.S.C. 6326, 5 CFR 630, subpart H

Funeral Leave for First Responders

A Federal law enforcement officer or firefighter may be excused from duty without loss of pay or charge to leave to attend the funeral of a fellow Federal law enforcement officer or firefighter who was killed in the line of duty.

References

  • 5 U.S.C. 6328

Funeral Leave for Veterans Participating in a Funeral Ceremony

A veteran of a war, or of a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or a member of an honor or ceremonial group of an organization of those veterans, may be excused from duty without loss of pay or charge to leave for up to 4 hours of excused absence to serve as a pallbearer, member of a firing squad, or guard of honor in a funeral ceremony for a member of the Armed Forces whose remains are returned from abroad.

References

  • 5 U.S.C. 6321

Military Leave for Funeral Honors Duty

An employee who is a member of the National Guard or a Reserve component of the Armed Forces may use military leave to attend to funeral honors duty under 10 U.S.C. 12503 and 32 U.S.C. 115.

References

  • 5 U.S.C. 6323(a)(1)

Sick Leave for Bereavement

An employee is entitled to use a total of up to 104 hours (13 days) of sick leave each leave year for family care and bereavement, which include making arrangements required by the death of a family member and attending the funeral of a family member. For additional information, see fact sheet entitled Sick Leave for Family Care and Bereavement.

Family Member: The definition of family member covers a wide range of relationships, including spouse; parents; parents-in-law; children; brothers; sisters; grandparents; grandchildren; step parents; step children; foster parents; foster children; guardianship relationships; same sex and opposite sex domestic partners; and spouses or domestic partners of the aforementioned, as applicable. The list of family members for whom an employee may request sick leave for bereavement (as well as important associated definitions for the terms son or daughter, parent, domestic partner, and committed relationship) may be found in the fact sheet entitled Definitions Related to Family Member and Immediate Relative for Leave Purposes.

Other Available Leave Options and Work Schedule Flexibilities

The Federal Government offers a wide range of leave options and workplace flexibilities to assist an employee who needs to be away from the workplace. These flexibilities include annual leave, advanced annual or sick leave, leave without pay, alternative work schedules, credit hours under flexible work schedules, telework, and compensatory time off. Under limited conditions and circumstances, the employee may also be eligible for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or donated leave under the voluntary leave transfer or leave bank programs.

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