Bereaved staff working for The Co-op will now be able to take double the length of paid leave available for bereaved staff. The chain has called it a market-leading policy for the retail sector.
The convenience chain – and the UK’s largest funeral provider – said its 57,000 employees can take up to 10 days paid leave when someone close to them dies or is seriously ill, up from five. Thanks to the new policy, managers have the flexibility to be able to give staff more days of paid leave if they think it is needed.
Earlier this year, energy provider Ovo Energy announced a new policy earlier this year giving staff unlimited and fully paid compassionate leave, including for any kind of pregnancy-related loss such as miscarriage. All UK employees are entitled to a “reasonable” amount of time off work if someone close to them dies, reports PA.
