CVS Bereavement Policy? (How many days, proof, + more!)
Most pharmacies and retail chains in the U.S. understand the difficult times employees go through when grieving for a loved one. The last thing you want to do during this time is to keep working as if everything was working fine. For this reason, many companies offer flexible bereavement leave.
Often, before your tenure at CVS, you might wonder if the pharma giant will provide you with bereavement leave in the tragic death of a loved one.
Read on to learn more about CVS’ Bereavement Policy.
CVS Bereavement Policy
CVS provides its employees with a standard three-day bereavement leave if they lose a next of kin. It can be a child, sibling, spouse, parent, grandchild or grandparent. Employees will only be paid during this vacation period after the 90-day trial period has ended. If this is not the case, the leave will be unpaid.
Learn more about applying for bereavement leave, the relationships included in the bereavement policy, and whether you need to provide a death certificate in this article.
Bereavement Policy
Bereavement leave is the time an employee takes time off after the death of a loved one. Employers are responsible for granting leave to employees.
While most bereavement leave policies cover immediate family members, close friends and extended family, individual policies may vary regarding what constitutes a bereavement loss.
How do you apply for bereavement leave at CVS?
If you have lost a loved one and need to take bereavement leave, the first thing you need to do is get in touch with the store manager. Explain your situation to them and submit your leave request so they can authorize it.
However, it is not uncommon to fail to submit a leave application in a timely manner. In this case, you may need to contact your manager as soon as possible and explain your situation.
Whose Families Are Considered by the CVS Bereavement Policy?
CVS Health policies only cover your immediate family members, employees’:
- parents
- child
- in law
- companion
- grandparents
- stepchildren
- stepparent
- brothers and sisters
- domestic partners
- legal guardian
- Relatives living with the employee
It is important to note that this policy does not include uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces or close friends.
Is CVS bereavement leave paid?
Yes, CVS offers its employees paid bereavement leave, provided they have passed a 90-day probationary period. Most importantly, CVS provides financial assistance in the form of emergency travel expenses for funeral attendance and funeral expenses.
All thanks to the CVS Employee Relief Fund – a public charity created to help CVS employees during inevitable and unexpected financial emergencies and hardships.
If you need more work days, you can submit a personal leave of absence (LOA). The LOA requires approval from your store management and the relevant Human Resources department.
Here are some factors your store manager will consider when evaluating vacation time:
- your relationship with the deceased
- The approximate tie you need to travel to a funeral or to mourn with a loved one
- Your leave will have an impact on the operations of your CVS facility
- The number of times you took time off in the past 12 months
Do you need to provide a death certificate to qualify for CVS bereavement leave?
Providing a death certificate is not required, but may be required by some managers. In these cases, you can only provide a death certificate in the form of a death certificate, visitation booklet, or obituary at your manager’s request.
It all depends on the management of the particular store. In most cases, no proof is required because bereavement can happen suddenly.
Does the CVS Employee Relief Fund cover me?
Yes, all CVS Health employees, even those on probationary periods, are covered by the Employee Relief Fund. It is designed to provide financial relief to employees who suffer from family deaths, natural disasters, medical emergencies and several other unforeseen events.
The fund evaluates an employee’s application for assistance and provides grants of up to $3,000 depending on the severity of the emergency. If you would like to apply for assistance through the Employee Relief Fund, you must contact the Human Resources team to discuss your options.
Can CVS deny my bereavement policy?
Because there is no law in the United States that protects an employee’s bereavement leave entitlement, employers can approve or deny an employee’s bereavement leave. The only exception state is Oregon. Here, the company must provide a reasonable bereavement policy.
In the case of CVS, there is a separate employee relief fund for emergencies, which means your store manager is unlikely to deny you bereavement leave.
What should I do during bereavement leave?
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), different people respond to grief differently. The good news is that you can use the following coping mechanisms:
- Talk to your colleagues and friends about your loved ones
- accept your emotions
- Eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly.
- Get in touch with someone who is going through a similar loss
- Do things that honor the life of a deceased loved one, such as donating to charities and planting trees
APA believes that there is no standard amount of time for dealing with grief, so it’s good to see a psychologist helping you through this difficult time. If you lack an adequate support system, joining a support group might be a good idea.
bereavement leave benefits
Bereavement leave is important for employees who have suffered losses. For starters, employees have the right to take time off to mourn without the pressure of meeting deadlines at work. Additionally, grieving employees need time to arrange funerals for the deceased.
Generally, bereavement leave enables staff to:
- deal with their grief physically and mentally
- Contacting friends and family about the death of a loved one
- Arrange a final funeral for a loved one through a cremation society or funeral home
- Arrange travel for memorial or funeral services and receptions
- Complete financial and legal documentation of the deceased’s will
- Administering the estate and other property of the deceased
- Contact your loved one’s life insurance provider
- Spend time with relatives of the deceased
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in conclusion
In short, CVS Health has a generous bereavement policy that covers all employees.
The policy allows for a standard three-day vacation, depending on employee status. However, if you need more days, your manager can arrange it.
Leave covers only the loss of an employee’s next of kin and is only paid after the employee has passed a 90-day probationary period.
