Depending on your relationship to the person who passed away, you may be eligible to take bereavement leave. Whether it’s paid or unpaid depends on your employment status at NIU.
If you accrue vacation and sick leave benefits, you can take paid bereavement leave. The number of days you can take depends on your relationship to the person who died.
You can request up to three days of paid bereavement leave due to the death of a member of your immediate family or household:
You can request one day of paid bereavement leave due to the death of a relative outside your immediate family or household:
Your department, in consultation with Human Resource Services, may approve leaves beyond these amounts. However, the additional leave will be charged to your accrued vacation, sick and/or personal non-accumulative sick leave benefits.
Note your bereavement usage in the comments section of your Salaried Non-Exempt/Hourly Time Sheet and Benefit Usage Report or Salaried Employee Benefit Usage Form. Include dates and your relationship to the person who died.
If you’re eligible for leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you can take up to 10 days of unpaid leave if a covered family member passes away. Covered family members include:
You can take unpaid bereavement leave for a covered family member to:
You can also take unpaid bereavement leave if you and/or your partner experience the following:
This leave is typically only taken by employees who have exhausted all their paid bereavement benefits and do not have accrued vacation or sick leave benefits. If you want to take this leave, please contact payroll@niu.edu in advance to discuss the pay deduction.
Indicate the dates of leave, your relationship to the person who died and that the time should be unpaid on your Salaried Non-Exempt/Hourly Time Sheet and Benefit Usage Report or Salaried Employee Benefit Usage Form.