Bereavement leave · British Columbia
British Columbia bereavement leave.
How many days off British Columbia law gives an employee after a death and whether any are paid. Enter your length of service to see your days.
British Columbia: up to 3 days of unpaid leave on the death of a member of the employee’s immediate family.
Your situation
Your bereavement leave days
Enter your length of service and press Calculate.
British Columbia: bereavement leave rules in detail
| Point | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Days | Up to 3 |
| Paid? | Unpaid; payment only if the employer and employee agree |
| Qualifying period | None stated in the Act |
Notes on this rule
Employment Standards Act s. 53.
How to use this page
Enter your days of continuous employment with the current employer and, where the form asks, which situation applies. The calculator returns the days the statute gives and how many are paid. Which relatives qualify is set by the source linked below.
Sources, read directly 19 October 2026: BC Employment Standards Act, s. 53.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of bereavement leave does British Columbia law give?
British Columbia: up to 3 days of unpaid leave on the death of a member of the employee’s immediate family.
Is bereavement leave paid?
No. British Columbia: up to 3 days of unpaid leave on the death of a member of the employee’s immediate family. The leave is unpaid unless a contract, policy or collective agreement says otherwise.
Do I have to have worked a minimum time first?
The qualifying period is: none stated. The calculator above uses your days of continuous employment against that threshold.
Can an employer or a contract give more than this?
Yes. These are statutory minimums. An employment contract, workplace policy or collective agreement can give more, but not less. Union members should check their collective agreement as well.
Where does this British Columbia information come from?
Every figure on this page was read on 19 October 2026 from: BC Employment Standards Act, s. 53. The links are listed under the rules table above. If a source changes, this page is regenerated from one data file and the verified date is updated.
Reference only — not legal advice
This page states the statutory bereavement leave entitlement from the published employment-standards legislation or the government’s own guide, read on 19 October 2026. It is not legal advice, does not model a collective agreement or an individual contract, and rules change. For a binding answer, contact the employment standards office named in the source or a lawyer.