hestiaWhat you are entitled to
| Paid leave | For the death of |
|---|---|
| 40 hours | An immediate family member: spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, the in-law and step equivalents of each, and a dependent living in your household |
| 8 hours | A colleague currently employed by your own agency, for travel to and attendance at the funeral or memorial |
From the North Carolina OSHR bereavement leave policy. Read it yourself, because you should not have to take our word for your own entitlement.
Three things worth knowing
It is an opt-in policy. Every Cabinet agency has adopted it, and so have virtually all other agencies and UNC institutions, but it is not a statewide entitlement. One question to HR confirms whether yours did.
Part-time is prorated. The hours are for full-time employees and are prorated by your schedule. You need to work half-time or more.
Your appointment type matters. You need a permanent, probationary or time-limited appointment at a participating agency or university.
If your relationship is not on the list
An unmarried partner is not in the state definition of immediate family, and nor are aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces or nephews. If that is your situation, ask your HR office about sick or vacation leave.
What they accept as proof
The policy says acceptable documentation “should include, but is not limited to, a death certificate, obituary” and funeral or memorial event information. If you do not have it when you ask for the leave, you give it when it arrives. For a colleague’s funeral they ask for proof that you attended.
A death certificate can take weeks. An obituary or the funeral details are usually enough, and you can write the obituary here free or print your service details from your family space.
Work out your days and write the request
Our free tool asks who died and who you work for, then drafts the message to your manager or HR with the right wording and the right leave code. Nothing is saved and nothing is sent anywhere.
If you do not work for the state
No North Carolina law requires a private employer to provide bereavement leave. What you get depends on your employer’s own policy, which is in your handbook or with your HR office.
The tool covers private employers too, and will draft the request either way.
Questions people ask
How much bereavement leave do North Carolina state employees get?
Forty hours of paid leave after the death of an immediate family member, prorated for part-time employees, and up to 8 hours to attend the funeral or memorial of a colleague at your own agency.
What documentation does North Carolina accept for bereavement leave?
The policy says acceptable documentation should include, but is not limited to, a death certificate, an obituary, and funeral or memorial event information. If you do not have it when you request the leave, you provide it when it becomes available. For a colleague’s funeral, they ask for proof that you attended.
Do all North Carolina agencies offer bereavement leave?
It is an opt-in policy rather than a statewide entitlement. All Cabinet agencies have adopted it, along with virtually all other agencies and UNC institutions, but it is worth confirming with your own HR office.
Does North Carolina require private employers to give bereavement leave?
No. No North Carolina law requires a private employer to provide bereavement leave. What you get depends on your employer’s own policy.
While you are here
If you are arranging a funeral in North Carolina, we publish funeral homes’ own price lists side by side, each with the date it was issued. Nobody pays to appear.
See what funeral homes near you charge · What has to happen first
General information, not legal advice. Policies change, so check the official page linked above.