The Department of Health guidelines which determine the amount of compassionate leave which may be granted to an employee on the death of a relative are as follows:

Compassionate leave with pay may be granted under the following conditions:

• A maximum of twenty working days may be granted on the death of a spouse (including a cohabiting partner), child (including adopted children and children being cared for on the basis of ‘in loco parentis’) or any person in a relationship of domestic dependency, including same sex partners.

• A maximum of five working days may be granted on the death of an immediate relative, i.e. father, mother, brother, sister, mother-in-law or father-in-law.

• In exceptional circumstances, a maximum of three days may be granted on the death of a more distant relative, if for example, an employee has to take charge, of funeral arrangements or has lived in the same house as the deceased.

• Extra days may be allowed where an immediate relative dies abroad and you have to go abroad to take charge of funeral arrangements.