Fact Check: Bereavement Leave by State: Where Employers Must Provide Time Off

Federal law does not require private-employer bereavement leave

California requires up to 5 days for employers with 5+ employees; days need not be consecutive; complete within 3 months

California leave is unpaid unless policy or other available paid leave fills it; five days is still the floor

Illinois FBLA provides up to 2 weeks unpaid for FMLA-covered employers (generally 50+)

Illinois CEBLA provides 6 weeks (50–249) or 12 weeks (250+) after child death by suicide or homicide

Oregon OFLA bereavement is up to 2 weeks per family member / 4 weeks per leave year for 25+ employers

Paid Leave Oregon does not cover bereavement as wage replacement

Maryland Flexible Leave Act requires use of existing paid leave for death of child, spouse, or parent (15+ with paid leave)

Washington has no general private bereavement bank; PFML can cover 7 calendar days after death of a qualifying child

Other states have no verified stand-alone private bereavement mandate at research time

Work location, not HQ, generally controls multi-state bereavement rights

Sick leave / general paid leave may cover funerals only when the statute’s use list fits