Update on funeral leave benefits for same-sex couples in New York

Effective October 29, 2010, if an employer grants funeral or bereavement leave to an employee for the "death of a spouse, child, parent or other relative, the employer cannot deny the same leave for the death of an employee's same-sex committed partner."

Same-sex committed partners are defined as those "who are financially and emotionally interdependent in a manner commonly presumed of spouses."  This law was signed by Governor Paterson on August 30, 2010. Employers should update their employee handbook policies on bereavement or funeral leave to reflect this new law. 

HR Works, Inc., located at 246 Willow Brook Office Park in Fairport (Rochester), New York, is a human resource management outsourcing and consulting firm serving more than 700 clients. HR Works provides benefits administration outsourcing; full-time, part-time and interim on-site HR managers; HR audits; legally reviewed employee handbooks and supervisor manuals; affirmative action programs; compensation programs; training of managers and HR professionals; and HRIS and self-service technology.

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