Bereavement Information
For Full-Time and Unionized Part-Time Employees
Kean University is committed to supporting employees through grief and loss. If you have lost a close relative or loved one, we would like to extend our condolences and also let you know that we are here for you. The information below will provide you with a summary of resources available to you during this time.
Requesting Time Away From Work
If you need time away from work for bereavement to attend a funeral, make arrangements after a passing or to grieve the death of a loved one, you may request time off using your available PTO allotments. Bereavement days may be used before applying sick, personal, or vacation days as applicable to cover your absence for your time away from work. For this bereavement period, supporting documentation may take the form of an obituary or a death certificate when it is available.
Effective as of January 2025, the University has extended Bereavement Days for the loss of an immediate family members to all Full-Time and Unionized Part-Time Employees to support them during times of loss.
- Employees who received their new time allotments in January have been credited with three bereavement days for use in calendar year 2025. This includes CWA, IFPTE, PBA, NJLESA, NJSOLEA and AFT employees.
- Managerial employees, who receive their new time allotments annually in July, have received 1.5 days of prorated bereavement leave. Their balance will be reset to three days on July 1, 2025, for use during fiscal year 2026.
Bereavement Day guidelines:
- Employees will receive three bereavement days annually. Bereavement leave will be credited in full at the beginning of the employee’s leave year. Unused bereavement days expire at the end of the PTO year and cannot be carried over.
- The days may be used, as needed, before sick or other time-off balances are applied in the event of the loss of an employee’s immediate family member as defined by N.J.A.C. 4A:
- Immediate family member refers to an employee's spouse, domestic partner, civil union partner, child, legal ward, grandchild, foster child, father, mother, legal guardian, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, and other relatives residing in the employee's household or any other individual whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship, such as a step relative.
You may enter a request for Paid Time Off (PTO, such as a Bereavement Day or a Sick Day) in Workday, and identify to your manager the reason you need the time, and your estimated return to work date. To grieve a close family member, employees may use up to two weeks. Question related to your Bereavement Days, should be addressed to Linnette Guardamino, Office of Human Resources, Time and Attendance unit, lguardam@exchange.kean.edu or 908-737-3268.
We recognize that there are big individual differences in how people respond to grief and what they need. For some, they need time away from the world, while others need to re-immerse themselves in it. If you need additional time away from work, you may contact the Office of Human Resources to learn about your leave of absence options. Lorice Thompson-Greer, in the Benefits team, will be able to assist you with any leave of absence questions. She may be reached at lgreer@kean.edu or 908-737-3309.
Carebridge Employee Assistance Program
The Carebridge EAP is available to you. Remember - All full-time employees are eligible to access Carebridge EAP, as well as any related family members and/or individuals residing within their immediate household, such as spouses, domestic/civil union partners, and dependent children, including children living outside the household to age twenty-six (26). This would also include parents or parents-in-law of the employee, or cohabitating opposite sex partners (i.e., girlfriends/boyfriends/fiancées) as long as these individuals share an immediate household residence with the full-time employee. Among other services, Carebridge provides you with:
- 6 mental health counseling sessions per concern, per individual per year*
- Sessions offered in person or via telehealth (video/phone/chat)
- No charge is involved for visits by the employee or the covered family member to the Carebridge EAP.
*If further counseling or health services are recommended, the EAP counselor will attempt to assist the employee in transitioning to another health care provider that participates in his or her current medical plan.
All consultations between an employee or a covered family member and the Carebridge EAP counselor are strictly confidential.
Carebridge EAP Your Wellbeing Matters Poster
Carebridge Can Help: Free & Confidential 24-7 Support
What to Expect from Counseling
Additionally, when you are ready, we encourage you to review the following Carebridge EAP resources that are aimed at supporting you in your time of loss. You may also join the Carebridge Loss support group that meets virtually on a monthly basis, click here for more information on support groups.
Carebridge Resource: Living with Grief
Carebridge Resource: Tips for Coping with Grief
Carebridge Resource: Healing Through Grief
Grief and Loss Resource Library
You can contact Carebridge EAP - 24 /7: (800) 437-0911 clientservice@carebridge.com / CarebridgeNow.com (Access Code: XGR7S)
Loss of Spouse
If you have experienced a loss of coverage as a result of the loss of a spouse, you have 60 days to enroll in the SHBP. The benefits team will support you with this process. For further details, you may contact benefits@kean.edu.
Loss of Beneficiary
If you have experienced the loss of a beneficiary for your life insurance or your retirement plans, you are reminded to update your records at the first available opportunity.
Additional Questions?
Do you need help with an issue related to your loss that is not listed here? Please feel free to speak with Lorice Thompson-Greer, on the Benefits team (lgreer@kean.edu or 908-737-3309) and we will help you navigate this challenging time.