Private sector employers and employees
Telephone: 1300 655 266
Mailing address
Locked Bag 100
East Perth WA 6892
This information is only relevant to employers and employees in the WA state industrial relations system.
This is general information on the minimum entitlement to bereavement leave based on the state Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993. WA awards, industrial agreements and contracts of employment may provide an employee with a more beneficial entitlement.
Full time, part time and casual employees are entitled to up to two days of paid bereavement leave on the death of a member of the family or household. A member of the family or household means any of the following people:
Bereavement leave can be taken for each occasion there is a death of a member of the family or household. Bereavement leave does not accrue from year to year and unused bereavement leave is not paid out when an employee ceases employment.
An employer can reasonably request proof of the death, and the employee's relationship with the deceased person, before granting bereavement leave. Provided that the requirements for bereavement leave are satisfied and proof can be supplied of the employee’s relationship with the deceased, it is unlawful to refuse a request for bereavement leave.
Employees get paid their current rate of pay when they take bereavement leave. A casual employee receives their casual loading, and is generally paid for the ordinary hours they would have worked if they had not taken the bereavement leave.
Commission-only and piece rate employees are to be paid the highest of the following for a period of bereavement leave:
Where the rate of payment for a period of bereavement leave is being calculated according to the employee’s average weekly earnings over the 365 days before the leave is taken, any period during which the employee was on unpaid leave and any period during which the employee was stood down in accordance with an award, industrial agreement or legislative provision are not included in the calculation.
It is compulsory for employers to keep employment records, including all leave taken. It is also compulsory for employers to provide employees with a payslip. Learn more on the Employment records - Employer obligations page.
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