My uncle passed away just before Memorial Day. Heart attack in the middle of his living room, and my adult cousins didn't find him until the next day. We weren't close, but he was always happy to have me over for dinner while I was in college, so I thought that I ought to pay my respects. The funeral was in my hometown which is several hours away from where I live now, meaning I'd have to take some time off work.
My company's bereavement policy is pretty slim. Unless it's your (biological) parent, (current) spouse, or child (this one is ambiguous, but I'm assuming “biological” is implied) you have to use personal time.
The showing and funeral were scheduled for the tail end of the week, with the offices closed for Memorial Day the following Monday. I submitted my PTO request expecting that there wouldn't be any issues. Denied within the hour. Reason? “Too close to the holiday.”
It's not like this was a vacation for me. I was going to be cooped up in a funeral home for two days. Also, sorry my uncle died at an inconvenient time for you. Please send me a list of dates when it would be acceptable to pass away.
Over the next couple days I tried to come up with an arrangement that would satisfy everybody:
- Can I work remote for those two days and take an extended lunch break for the showing/funeral? Nope, need to be in the office.
- We have a satellite office twenty minutes from my hometown. Can I work out of that office for the two days and take extended lunches? Nope, need to be in my *assigned* office.
- Can I take PTO for one day and skip the showing? Nope, need you for both.
I finally called their bluff, submitted a new PTO request at 4:55pm the day before the funeral, and put in all caps that the request was for bereavement. The request was approved the next day when I was already MIA and I haven't heard anything since, although I'm sure this “incident” will be brought up at my performance review in the Spring. Assuming I'm still at this shithole company.