Dems call for 12 weeks off from work to mourn for lost child

Democrats in the House and Senate have proposed legislation that would allow parents to take up to 12 weeks off from work, without fear of losing their job, to grieve for a lost child.

The Parental Bereavement Act, from Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), would amend the 1993 Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). That law already gives parents time away from work when children are born or to deal with health issues.

Their proposal would treat the loss of a child like those other life-altering events.

"Anytime a parent has to bury a child is, in my opinion, the most stressful and excruciating experience a family can go through," Tester said this week. "Folks need time to grieve and sort out what has happened without having to worry about losing their jobs, and this common sense bill does just that."

"It is simply common sense that they should be able to use FMLA leave to grieve for their loss," Israel said.

Israel said he proposed the bill after hearing from a constituent who lost his daughter to leukemia, and had to return to work just days after her funeral service. The bill would not apply to companies with less than 50 employees.

The proposal is supported by several organizations, including the Farley-Kluger Initiative, founded by Kelly Farley and Barry Kluger after the death of their children.

"The mourning, grief and healing period after the loss of a child is too often ignored," Farley and Kluger said. "We believe Senator Tester's and Congressman Israel's legislation addresses this issue and urge our leaders to give those in pain the opportunity and time to heal."

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