Glossary

Term · California: Leave, Money, and Paperwork

bereavement leave

Also: bereavement time off, AB 1949 leave

Time off work after a close family member dies, including a child. California law requires most employers with five or more workers to allow up to five days.

In plain words

Bereavement leave is time away from work after a family member dies. In California, a law that took effect in 2023, known as AB 1949, gives eligible employees up to five days off after the death of a family member, including a child. The law applies to employers with five or more workers. Other protections can run alongside it. A mother recovering from birth may still be covered by , and may help with wage replacement for her own recovery. bonding benefits end when the child dies. The rules have several parts that work together. The Civil Rights Department and the publish guidance on each part, and a human resources team can help a family sort them out.

The deeper version

AB 1949 (2022), effective January 1, 2023, added bereavement leave for the death of a family member, including a child, to the California Government Code for employers with five or more employees, with up to five days of leave for eligible employees. Its protections are separate from Pregnancy Disability Leave, which continues to cover a mother's own recovery, and from State Disability Insurance wage replacement. Paid Family Leave bonding benefits end with the death of the child, according to state guidance. Because bereavement protections, disability benefits, and job protection operate under different triggers and time limits, a single loss can involve several overlapping claims. Eligibility, notice, and the interaction with the depend on current statute and agency guidance.

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Sources

  • California Legislature — Assembly Bill 1949 (2022), bereavement leave for the death of a child, effective 2023
  • California Civil Rights Department — Guidance on bereavement leave under California employment law

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