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HD 952

An Act relative to bereavement leave

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Chynah Tyler and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts bill requiring employers to provide paid bereavement leave to employees following death of immediate family members, eliminating income loss during grief.

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Bill Summary · HD 952

Legislative bill overview

HD 952 establishes bereavement leave protections for Massachusetts employees, requiring employers to grant paid time off when employees experience the death of a family member. The bill specifies eligible family relationships and ensures employees cannot face retaliation for taking such leave.

Why is this important

Bereavement leave allows workers to grieve, attend funerals, and handle estate matters without losing income or job security—issues that disproportionately burden lower-wage workers who cannot afford unpaid time off. Currently, Massachusetts has no statewide bereavement leave mandate, leaving protections to individual employer policies, creating significant inequities across the workforce.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of coverage: Debate over which family relationships qualify (spouse, children, parents are typical; questions arise about grandparents, in-laws, stepfamily, or close non-biological relationships)
  • Duration and pay: Disagreement over how many days constitute adequate leave and whether employers should bear full salary costs or partial compensation
  • Business impact: Small employers may argue administrative burden and payroll costs, while labor advocates counter that large corporations easily absorb these expenses

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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