Many retail and pharmacy chains in the U.S. acknowledge the difficulty employees have to go through when dealing with the loss of a loved one and offer flexible bereavement leaves.
So if you’re applying for a role at CVS, you may want to know whether the pharmacy giant will offer you bereavement leave in case a loved one passes away. Here is what I’ve found out about this!
CVS Bereavement Policy
CVS allows a three-day bereavement leave to employees in case an immediate family member (such as a spouse, child, parent, sibling, or grandparent) passes away. Employees are paid for their standard hours during this leave if they have cleared the 90-day probation. Otherwise, the leave is unpaid.
If you want to learn more about how to apply for bereavement leave, whether you need to provide proof of the event, and which relations are included in the bereavement policy, keep on reading!
How Do I Apply For Bereavement Leave At CVS?
If you have had a death in your immediate family and need to apply for bereavement, you can submit a request to your store manager to authorize your leave from work.
However, in case you are unable to submit this request in advance, contact your manager as soon as you possibly can to explain the situation.
Which Relations Are Included In CVS Bereavement Leave?
CVS Health’s policy only covers the immediate family, which is defined as the employee’s:
- Spouse
- Child
- Mother or father (and in-laws)
- Grandparents (and in-laws)
- Step-parent(s) and step-children
- Brother or sister (and in-laws)
- Legal guardian
- Domestic Partner
- Relatives living in the employee’s home
Note that this does not cover aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, or close friends.
Does CVS Offer Paid Bereavement Leave?
CVS offers paid bereavement leave for employees who have passed their 90-day probationary period at a straight-time rate for the hours scheduled during the days the employee would have been working.
Additionally, CVS Health also offers financial assistance in the form of funeral expenses and emergency travel expenses for attending a funeral through its Employee Relief Fund.
The Employee Relief Fund is a public charity created to help employees of CVS during unanticipated and unavoidable financial hardships and emergencies.
If the employees require further time away from work, they will be required to submit a personal Leave of Absence (LOA), which must be approved by the store manager and relevant HR department.
Who Is Eligible For Paid Bereavement Leave?
Employees of CVS are eligible for paid bereavement leave if they work an average of at least 30 hours per week and have completed their 90-day probationary period.
Note that those who have not yet completed their probationary period will only receive unpaid bereavement leave.
Do I Need To Provide Proof To Qualify For Bereavement Leave At CVS?
You will only need to provide proof to verify your bereavement leave if you are requested to do so by your manager, but this is dependent on the management of the store in question.
In most cases, proof will not be required as bereavement can happen quite suddenly.
Am I Covered By The CVS Employee Relief Fund?
All employees of CVS Health, including those on probation, are covered by the Employee Relief Fund.
It is intended to provide financial relief to employees who have suffered as a result of a family death, medical emergencies, natural disasters, and other unforeseen events.
This fund evaluates employee applications for assistance and grants up to $3,000 (tax-exempt), depending on the severity of the emergency.
To apply for help through this fund, simply contact your relevant HR team to discuss your options.
Can CVS Deny Bereavement Leave To Employees?
Since there are no laws in the U.S. protecting employees’ right to bereavement leave, it is down to the employer’s discretion whether it will deny or approve bereavement leave to its employees.
The state of Oregon is an exception to this, where it is now (as of 2024) mandatory for companies to offer a reasonable bereavement policy.
As for CVS, the fact that it has a separate Employee Relief Fund for emergencies shows that it is unlikely that store managers will deny bereavement leave.
To find out more about CVS, you can also see our posts on CVS break policy, if CVS drug test, and the CVS dress code.
Conclusion
CVS Health has a bereavement policy covering all employees that allows for three days of leave from work, depending on the status of the employee. If the employee has passed their 90-day probationary period, then they will receive paid leave, otherwise, they will receive unpaid leave.
This policy covers the loss of the employee’s immediate family and does not cover extended family members such as aunts or uncles.
