EA R7 (2019-2020): Bereavement Policy

Acknowledged by the President

• Resolution:
  EA R7 (2019-2020): Bereavement Policy
• Day:
  June 24, 2020
• Action:
  Acknowledged by the President
• Summary / Notes:

       

• File Attachments:
• Text Attachment:
  Dear Adam,

   

  Thank you for your submission of EA Resolution 7: Bereavement Policy. I have consulted with Vice President Opperman regarding our current policy and your recommended changes.

   

  You have asked for two adjustments. 

  1. to add a more inclusive definition of family to the policy by adding "surrogate" parents as immediate family members. This resolution defines a surrogate parent as "the primary caregiver for the employee who views them as immediate family, this could be an aunt, uncle, cousin, or non-blood related caregiver."

  VP Opperman and I agree with your recommendation and will add “surrogate parent” based on the definition you provided.

  1. to incorporate a reasonable number of days off for travel to and from funeral services by providing a minimum of 5 days for funerals of immediate family members who are more than 100 miles away and a maximum of 3 days for other relatives who are more than 100 miles away.

  Vice President Opperman asked her team to review the bereavement leaves provided by our peer institutions. While some do offer 5 days of funeral leave, most have a policy similar to ours. At this time of very serious financial stress, we cannot agree to this change, which involves cost to the university. 

   

  Thank you again for bringing this forward.

   

  Sincerely,

  Martha Pollack

   

  Martha E. Pollack

  President, Cornell University

  300 Day Hall

  Ithaca, NY 14853

  Tel: 607-255-5201

  www.cornell.edu