§252.10. Bereavement Leave

a)         All employees shall be entitled to use a maximum of 2 weeks (10 work days) of unpaid bereavement leave to:

 

1)         attend the funeral, or alternative to a funeral, of a child;

 

2)         make arrangements necessitated by the death of the child; or

 

3)         grieve the death of the child.

 

b)         Bereavement leave under subsection (a) must be completed within 60 days after the date on which the employee receives notice of the death of the child.

 

c)         An employee shall provide the employer with at least 48 hours' advance notice of the employee's intention to take bereavement leave, unless providing that notice is not reasonable and practicable.

 

d)         An employer may require reasonable documentation.  Documentation may include a death certificate, a published obituary, or written verification of death, burial, or memorial services from a mortuary, funeral home, burial society, crematorium, religious institution, or government agency.

 

e)         In the event of the death of more than one child in a 12-month period, an employee is entitled to up to a total of 6 weeks of bereavement leave during the 12-month period. 

 

f)         The Act does not entitle an employee to take unpaid leave time that exceeds the total unpaid leave time protected under FMLA. [820 ILCS 154/10]