Labour legalities of policy.

[Flame On]

Wife works for a company, her grandfather died. She looked up in her employee manual for coverage and saw she was allowed bereavement leave.
Took the leave.
Then was told that HR have changed that policy and she just didn't know yet.
Now they don't count Grandparents under the bereavement policy, only immediate family.
Can they do that if they haven't updated staff who are still using the policy as they saw it?

[CaptainCrunch]

Not unless they've issued a modified copy of the employee manual, or let the employees know in writing about the change.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

agree with the captain, she can't be held to new rules, of which she had no knowledge

[Gozer]

Insert catbert joke here

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Flame On

Wife works for a company, her grandfather died. She looked up in her employee manual for coverage and saw she was allowed bereavement leave.
Took the leave.
Then was told that HR have changed that policy and she just didn't know yet.
Now they don't count Grandparents under the bereavement policy, only immediate family.
Can they do that if they haven't updated staff who are still using the policy as they saw it?

Did she request leave fromher employer for bereavement? Was it approved prior to her leaving? If so she is entiled to the leave. If it wasn't approved by the employer she may have a problem.

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Did she request leave fromher employer for bereavement? Was it approved prior to her leaving? If so she is entiled to the leave. If it wasn't approved by the employer she may have a problem.

She asked her immediate boss who said yes. The boss sent the paperwork or whatever off and the HR department got back to her.
They did come back and say she could have one of the days, but not both.

[Shazam]

These aren't "laws".

Companies changes these policies at will.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Flame On

She asked her immediate boss who said yes. The boss sent the paperwork or whatever off and the HR department got back to her.
They did come back and say she could have one of the days, but not both.

I suppose it depends on how that conversation went.

1. "Can I book the next 2 days off?"
2. "Can I book the next 2 days off and use the bereavement coverage for this?"

If she asked the 2nd, and her boss said yes, I'd say the company should pay up regardless of policy. Unless she HAS received the update in writing... then she might be SOL. Maybe it came out in an email.

[ken0042]

Can she take the other day as sick time? When my grandfather died I was only allowed 1 day for bereavement and was allowed to take additional time as sick time. Especially if her day to day supervisor says it's OK.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Wow, only 1 day bereavement. That sucks. These company's need to be more cmopasionate.