Click here to skip navigation
OPM.gov Home  |  Subject Index  |  Important Links  |  Contact Us  |  Help

U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

Advanced Search

Sick Leave for Family Care or Bereavement Purposes

(Also see: Sick Leave to Care for a Family Member with a Serious Health Condition)

Entitlement

Most Federal employees may use a total of up to 104 hours (13 workdays) of sick leave each leave year to-

  • provide care for a family member who is incapacitated as a result of physical or mental illness, injury, pregnancy, or childbirth;

  • provide care for a family member as a result of medical, dental, or optical examination or treatment; or

  • make arrangements necessitated by the death of a family member or attend the funeral of a family member.

A covered full-time employee may use up to 104 hours (13 workdays) of sick leave each leave year for these purposes. Part-time employees and employees with uncommon tours of duty are also covered, and the amount of sick leave permitted for family care and bereavement purposes is pro-rated in proportion to the average number of hours of work in the employee's scheduled tour of duty each week.

Definition of Family Member

"Family member" is defined as-

  • spouse, and parents thereof;

  • children, including adopted children, and spouses thereof;

  • parents;

  • brothers and sisters, and spouses thereof; and

  • any individual related by blood or affinity whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship.

Administration

At the discretion of the agency, an employee may be advanced up to 104 hours of sick leave each leave year (or a proportional amount for an employee on a part-time schedule or uncommon tour of duty) for family care or bereavement purposes.

Reference

5 CFR 630.401