California employees will soon be able to take bereavement leave when an extended relative or someone they consider family dies. Governor Newsom signed SB 1149 late yesterday, allowing employees to take bereavement leave upon the death of a “designated person,” which means any person related to the employee by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship. Here are the top three changes and the key steps you should consider taking before it takes effect on January 1, 2027.
1. Employees May Take Bereavement Leave for the Death of a “Designated Person”
Currently, California’s bereavement leave law applies only to the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, domestic partner, or parent-in-law. It does not cover extended relatives like aunts, uncles, cousins, or non-blood relationships considered equivalent to family.
SB 1149, however, expands the list of applicable individuals to also include a designated person chosen by the employee, defined as any person related to the employee by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship.
This will allow employees to take bereavement leave for the death of an extended relative or for an individual who may not be biologically or legally related but has deep, family-like bonds with the employee.
This aligns bereavement leave more closely with recent changes made to CFRA Leave and Paid Sick Leave under AB 1041 and that will...
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