Tusla staff are now entitled to 20 days’ bereavement leave on the death of a spouse, partner or child. The previous allowance was just five days.

Employees can also get five days of paid leave if a close relative dies.

The Fórsa-negotiated change, which came into effect on 1st January this year, brings Tusla in line with the HSE standards negotiated last year. 

It has been agreed that the scheme will be backdated to October 2019 which means if any worker lost out between then and now, that time can be claimed back as compassionate leave.

Fórsa official Chris Cully welcomed the development. “It’s only fair that people suffering extreme loss are given equal time to deal with it. The experience of grieving for your husband, wife, daughter, or son isn’t something that can be quantified based on what sector you work in,” she said. 

Last June Fórsa won a Labour Court ruling that brought the HSE in line with civil service arrangements. Tusla staff can now benefit from the same provisions. 

For full details of the new agreement, see HERE.