Sheena Hemens: Christchurch mother on her call to extend bereavement leave from three days to ten

A Christchurch mother says current bereavement leave rules don’t give families enough time to grieve. 

Sheena Hemens has launched a petition to increase the minimum entitlement from three days to ten, after her 27-year-old daughter Lauren was killed in a car crash nearly three years ago. 

She says most people don't realise how little time you get to grieve until tragedy strikes, and the allowance feels like an insult.  

Hemens told Francesca Rudkin that if you need more than three days, the only options currently are to use annual or sick leave, or to take unpaid leave. 

Taking unpaid leave is not a fiscal option for many, she says, and it means that at the worst time of someone’s life, they’re being asked to be under financial pressure. 

“That seems, just inhuman.” 

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