Human Resources and Payroll

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Frequently Asked Questions - Death of a Family Member

As the employee, you or someone on your behalf, should notify your supervisor or department of your loss. Then, within the next few days you should renotify your supervisor to discuss the amount of leave you may need to take as well as any outstanding issues on your job that need immediate attention.

What type of leave can be used for bereavement?
The Commonwealth of Virginia does not assign special leave days for bereavement.

• Permanent classified and faculty employees who earn leave and are enrolled in the Traditional Sick Leave Program may use three days of sick leave for death in the immediate family. The employee will need to use annual leave or leave without pay for days taken after the first three. Sick leave may not be used to attend funeral services for persons outside of the employee's immediate family.
• Permanent classified and faculty employees enrolled in the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program VSDP may use family/personal leave days or annual leave.
• Wage employees are not paid for days missed due to bereavement.

How does the Commonwealth define immediate family?
Immediate family is defined as:

• spouse
• children (including step-children)
• siblings (including step-siblings)
• parents (including step-parents)
• any relative, either by blood or marriage, living in the employee's household

The definition of immediate family does not include grandparents, grandchildren or in-laws of the employee unless the relative lives in the employee's household.

Deceased family member is spouse, beneficiary or dependent of GMU employee
If your deceased loved one was your spouse, beneficiary or dependent, you may want to tend to the following business issues upon your return to work:

• Change beneficiary designation
• Change federal and/or state tax withholdings
• Remove deceased member from health plan