On June 9, 2022, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the Family Bereavement Leave Act (FBLA) (SB 3120) into law which amends the existing Child Bereavement Leave Act and expands eligibility for unpaid bereavement leave. The new act requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide the expanded bereavement leave beginning January 1, 2023.
Background: In the original Child Bereavement Leave Act from 2016, parents and guardians were able to take leave for the loss of a biological or adopted child, or a stepchild. The amended act now also provides parents with time to grieve pregnancy loss and failed adoptions. Governor Pritzker stated that the amended act addresses, “the immense grief parents feel during pregnancy loss and failed adoptions,” saying, “both are under-recognized as traumatic events requiring time for healing.”
Federal law does not require bereavement leave and only a few other states, such as Oregon and Maryland, require such leave (the California Legislature recently passed a bill requiring bereavement leave, and it is currently awaiting signature by the Governor).
The amended Illinois FBLA is discussed in more detail below.
Eligible Leave Reasons: Employees are entitled to bereavement leave under the following circumstances:
- To attend the funeral or alternative to a funeral of a covered family member;
- To make arrangements necessitated by the death of the covered family member;
- To grieve the death of the covered family member; or
- Due to a miscarriage or pregnancy loss; an unsuccessful round of intrauterine insemination or a failed assisted reproductive technology procedure; a failed adoption match or an adoption that is not finalized because it is contested by another party; a failed surrogacy agreement; or a diagnosis that negatively impacts pregnancy or fertility; or stillbirth.
Covered Family Members: The expanded legislation includes leave after the loss of family members who were not previously covered in the original act. The expanded definition of a covered family member now includes:
- Children
- Stepchildren
- Spouses
- Domestic partners
- Siblings
- Parents
- Parents-in-law
- Grandchildren
- Grandparents
- Stepparents
Eligibility/Leave Duration: The employee may take up to 2 weeks (10 workdays) of unpaid leave which do not need to be taken consecutively. The leave must be completed within 60 days following the date in which the employee receives notice of the death of the covered family member. If an employee experiences the death of more than one covered family member in a 12-month period, an employee is entitled to up to 6 weeks of bereavement leave during that period.
Employee Eligibility: Employees qualify if they are eligible under the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Eligibility under FMLA requires at least 1,250 hours of service over the past 12 months, and work at a location where the company employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles. The new FBLA does not allow an employee to take unpaid leave that exceeds the unpaid leave time allowed under the FMLA.
Documentation: Lastly, an employer may require reasonable documentation for leave under the new FBLA; however, for leave resulting from miscarriage, stillbirth, failed adoption or other pregnancy related loss, the employer cannot require the employee to disclose the specific category of the leave. The Illinois Department of Labor will be publishing a model form to be used by employers requesting documentation from employees taking leave for these reasons that complies with the FBLA.
Employer Action
Employers with 50 or more employees should:
- Review their company bereavement leave policies before January 1, 2023, and revise for compliance with the FBLA’s requirements;
- Consider updating employee handbooks, as necessary;
- Educate their HR leave professionals and managers about the changes to this law; and
- Prepare to notify their employees of their rights and responsibilities under the amended act.
Additional Resources
- Family Bereavement Leave Act (FBLA)(SB 3120).
- Further details can be found at the Illinois Department of Labor/Child Bereavement Act here.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, medical or tax advice. It provides general information and is not intended to encompass all compliance and legal obligations that may be applicable. This information and any questions as to your specific circumstances should be reviewed with your respective legal counsel and/or tax advisor as we do not provide legal or tax advice. Please note that this information may be subject to change based on legislative changes. © 2022 Sequoia Benefits & Insurance Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved
