Benefits
In the Event of Death
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 notify your supervisor again to discuss the amount of leave you may need to take and any outstanding work items that need immediate attention.
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:
Bereavement Leave
Mason is committed to supporting the life/work balance and well-being of its faculty and staff. For this reason, the university wants everyone to have leave available to use upon the death of a loved one. It is hoped this bereavement leave will provide comfort during a difficult time.
The Commonwealth of Virginia does not assign special leave days for bereavement.
- Faculty and staff who are enrolled in the Traditional Sick Leave Program may use three days of sick leave for the death of an immediate family member. The employee will need to use annual leave or leave without pay for days taken after the first three days. Sick leave may not be used to attend funeral services for persons outside of the employee's immediate family.
- Faculty and staff who are enrolled in the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program VSDP may use family/personal leave or annual leave.
- Wage employees are not paid for days missed due to bereavement.
George Mason University offers bereavement leave to all benefited faculty and staff.
- Benefited employees receive 16 hours of bereavement leave, which will be available one time per year. This leave will be renewed each year on January 10 for classified employees and on June 24 for faculty.
- Wage employees are not paid for days missed due to bereavement.
The Commonwealth of Virginia defines immediate family 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.
George Mason University defines family as:
- Spouse or partner
- Children (including step-children)
- Siblings (including step-siblings
- Parents (including step-parents)
- Grandchildren
- Grandparents
- Aunts, uncles and any of the aforementioned family members of the employee's spouse or partner
- Any relative living in the employee's household
- Biological, adoptive, step or foster parents, siblings, and children
- Any family member for whom the employee is in "loco parentis”
Bereavement leave can be used for any of the above family members.
Death of Mason Employee
A family member or beneficiary should notify the deceased employee's supervisor or department. From there, the university will work with the family and other members of the university.
Beneficiaries may wish to read through After the Loss of a Loved One published by the Virginia Retirement System. This document provides information for the beneficiary of someone who died while still employed, as well as someone who had already retired through VRS. It also has a beneficiary checklist at the end of the document which reminds beneficiaries of other issues they may need to address.
- The employee's supervisor or department notifies Human Resources office and the Payroll office
- The Payroll Office issues to the employee's estate any paychecks that are still due to the deceased employee. The Payroll Office will also issue the W-2 form for the employee's earnings during the calendar year in which he/she died. This will be issued in January of the following calendar year.
- If the deceased employee received Commonwealth of Virginia benefits, the Benefits Office assists the family or beneficiary in the completion of forms for life insurance, health insurance, and retirement contributions. The Benefits Office will also work with the department to offer grief resources.
- The Human Resource Department will notify
- the Office of the President
- Notify the Office of Communications and Marketing
- Notify the Associate Vice President and Controller to send a floral spray or charitable donation, as determined by the family.
Grief Support
Mason also offers resources to help you and your loved ones manage your grief during this difficult time. You can view these supportive resources for more information.