Office of Origin: Human Resources
Responsibility: Executive Director, Human Resources
Original Date Adopted: 10/25/22 (estimated)
Dates Reviewed: 10/25/22, 2/5/24, 11-17-25
Last Date Board Approved: 11/17/25

Paid Bereavement Leave at Lake Michigan College (the College) will be granted to full-time and regularly scheduled part-time employees for workdays falling within the period generally taken from the time of a death as follows:

• Immediate family member : 5 days
• Family member: 3 days
• Other: 1 day

For the purposes of this policy, “immediate family member” includes:
spouse, domestic partner, or life partner

• child (biological, adopted, foster, stepchild, or legal ward)
• parent (biological, adoptive, step, or person who stood in loco parentis)
• sibling (biological, adopted, foster, step, or via legal ward)

“Family member” includes:

• grandparent (biological, adopted, foster, step, or via legal ward)
• grandchild (biological, adopted, foster, step, or via legal ward)
• in-law
• any person residing in the employee’s household.

“Other” includes:

• extended family member
• friend or individual with personal ties

Employees may be granted Bereavement Leave to attend the funeral and/or memorial service of a fellow College employee or contracted employee if such takes place during regularly scheduled work hours.

Exceptions

Extenuating circumstances (e.g., long-distance travel, delay in services, cultural practices) warranting use of Bereavement Leave over an extended period may be approved at the discretion of the supervisor in conjunction with the Executive

Director, Human Resources (HR.) Extenuating circumstances must be pre-approved by the supervisor and HR.

Additional workdays of Bereavement Leave may be approved at the discretion of the supervisor in conjunction with the Executive Director, HR, and will be subtracted from the employee's Sick Leave. Extensions are not automatic and will generally not exceed 5 additional workdays.

Employees who wish to extend their absence beyond approved Bereavement Leave may request to use accrued personal or vacation time.

Accountability

Employees may be asked to provide documentation (e.g., obituary, funeral program, or verification of relationship) to confirm eligibility for Bereavement Leave. Falsification of relationship or other misuse of Bereavement Leave may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

References: