[Overtherainbow]

I've had two friends pass away at a young age and two other aquaintances become widowed with young children. I've seen them try and struggle with their grief, their children's grief and also have to work out how to survive financially.

One was a SAHP and had to fast track her training to get into the work force. Others have found thye just can't cope and have quit their job and struggled financially, finding it difficult to re-enter the workforce at a later stage.

I've watched a colleague have to try and work through his pain and grief and while the business has supported him, I struggle with the fact that we can supply 1 year paid maternity leave but those who lose their spouse or child are not given the same grace.

Should there be a system in place, aside from private death insurance, to provide some time for people to grieve before having to return to work?

Please ignore stupid errors, I'm beyond exaustion atm and am typing tired.

[LK1]

I am not sure about the idea, but I know that when my Dad passed away I took 3 weeks off (unpaid) and I don't even remember that time, it was so stressful.
I can't imagine having to work during that time, I can't say I would have been efficient or even safe to be in a workplace.

[wenchwitch]

I think it's a good idea but am concerned some people would take advantage if it was law. Where is the line drawn? Parents, step sibling, step parents, siblings, cousins. I think by setting "requiremts" of spouse or children some people who are grieving will miss out" and others take advantage.

It would be great that employers show compassion based in individual circumstances and in the couple of cases of anecdotal situations I know this has happened ( although I realize there must be many who don't get this consideration)

I don't know what the solution is but it is fraught with many problems

[abcd_efg]

No, i think the onus should remain on the family to ensure they are adequately insured. Otherwise, where do you stop?

[countrylivingmum]

Yes I think there should be some kind of support for at least 2 months but saying that it should only apply if its a child or your spouse.

[Lightning_bug]

The problem with making it law is that some people can take a week, some a month, some years... you can't legislate that.

Some employers have leave without pay provisions which recognize that life is complicated. It's important to familiarize yourself with what your employer has to offer.

There are safety nets, in the form of disability and sickness allowances, should the death result in depression or other medically recognized issues. So it is there, just in a more specified way.

That's why it's important to have adequate insurance, to have income protection and to think about the unthinkable.

[~*Twilight~Zone*...]

I wish, I only got 2dys bereavement leave when my DH died.

This post has been edited by ~*Twilight~Zone*~: 07/02/2013, 11:49 PM

[howdo]

My employer has bereavement leave - I saw it on the form I filled out yesterday. I don't know how long you can take though. I recall it said 'for immediate family member' on it. So spouse, parents, children and siblings.

So it does exist under some work agreements already. In what capacity though, would vary I am sure. I think people who have taken bereavement leave have usually taken LSL as well to extend it a bit.

This post has been edited by howdo: 07/02/2013, 11:52 PM

[~*Twilight~Zone*...]

Howdo in most agreements bereavement leave is only 2dys

[SplashingRainbow...]

I'm not sure who in Australia is entitled to twelve months paid maternity leave? I don't know of anyone who gets more than twelve weeks from their employer - and that is for either public service or large business employers.

Small business rarely have the funds to offer paid maternity leave, although they must keep the position available for 12 months (with extensions available).

In relation to supporting the bereaved I think the better system is to ensure everyone has life insurance as part of their superannuation. There are very few employees now who don't get super and this way all businesses contribute the same. I would like to see harsher penalties for those employees who don't pay super on time which has in the past resulted in the insurance component of the fund being cancelled. I would also like to see it become harder for super funds to cancel life insurance in these cases. Often the employee doesn't know there is a problem, or isn't in a position to do anything about it. They can't exactly force the employer to just pay up - there are usually cash flow issues causing the lack of super payment by the employer.

I do think you have a point about bereavement of children - but I think we should cater for that through Centrelink rather than employers. As nice as it is for business to pay, not all businesses could afford to do so. It really is much harder running a small business than most people think.

I have no problem with higher taxes being paid to support people in this way.