{"id":13360,"date":"2023-04-05T21:46:24","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T01:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thealfam.com\/evermore\/public\/?p=13360"},"modified":"2026-07-28T13:30:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T17:30:57","slug":"five-important-questions-about-fmla-and-bereavement-leave-and-the-family-and-medical-leave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thealfam.com\/evermore\/five-important-questions-about-fmla-and-bereavement-leave-and-the-family-and-medical-leave\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Important Questions About FMLA and Bereavement Leave"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]By Prerna Shah<\/span><\/p>\n

When a loved one dies, many family members seek bereavement leave to attend to family affairs, their grief, and sort through the many changes that invisibly unfold behind closed doors. It may be surprising to learn that most employees have no legal right to take leave, except in five states in America (learn more about state bereavement laws here<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Family Medical Leave Act, also known as FMLA, provides job and benefits protection for 56 percent of the United States workforce; however, bereavement is not an eligible condition for job or wage protection. Many may be surprised to learn that newly bereaved families have no legal right to take leave to cope with the death of a loved one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what is a newly bereaved family member to do?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In honor of <\/span>National Employee Benefits Day, Evermore sat down with <\/span>Jeff Nowak<\/span><\/a>, an FMLA expert, who provides legal strategies and solutions for employers of all sizes across the globe, for an in-depth conversation on all aspects of FMLA.<\/span><\/p>\n

1) What is the FMLA?<\/b><\/h3>\n

FMLA is a federal law<\/span><\/a> that provides up to 12 weeks of leave to an eligible employee in a 12-month period. There are a number of reasons why you may be eligible for FMLA job protection, including\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n