The impact of loss deserves more attention in the workplace, says Marrit van Exel (53). She lost her husband in 2011 and her daughter in 2018. “My employer was very understanding of my situation. But I thought it was strange that nothing had been arranged for mourning in the law. While a lot has been arranged around the birth of a child.”
To equalize this inequality, she started a petition. Successfully. Marrit collected enough signatures to put bereavement leave on the agenda of the House of Representatives. Watch her story here:
–
–
fight
The factions of the SGP and GroenLinks have been fighting for some time to legislate bereavement leave. A tour of RTL Nieuws shows that a majority of the House of Representatives also feels that way. Although the parties still differ on the way in which the leave should be filled in.
In Belgium, everyone will be given ten days of bereavement leave after the death of a loved one. “We will have to determine later whether the leave in the Netherlands will be that long. But what matters to us is that there is a statutory leave arrangement,” says Chris Stoffer of the SGP.
–
–
Miscarriage
The SGP, together with GroenLinks, has been fighting for legal leave for some time. Employees can take the leave if they lose their father, mother or partner. But it is also intended for someone who is dealing with a miscarriage.
“Because there is currently nothing regulated in the law, employees often take vacation days or call in sick,” says Stoffer. “Both the employee and the employer will benefit if it is laid down by law.”
–
–
Free to determine
Employees are free to determine whether they actually use the leave. The SGP MP himself lost his mother when he was thirteen. “My father worked for an international company and actually liked to go back to work soon after my mother’s funeral. It was a good distraction for him. If people prefer to go to work, that is of course also good. In any case, legally recording mourning will be discussed.”
According to Stoffer, the period after a death is not only heavy because of the grief. “A lot also has to be arranged. Think of all the administration that comes with a death.”
–
–
In a pinch after mourning
Research by the trade union CNV shows that people who lose a loved one often find themselves in trouble with work. One in ten experiences a burnout and one in five says they do not receive enough support from their employer.
Outgoing minister Wouter Koolmees previously announced an investigation into mourning at work. Member of parliament Stoffer is positive: “I really hope that bereavement leave will be in our law next summer.”
–
–
