Employee's right to bereavement leave.

Existing law provides employees with the right to take time off work without discharge or discrimination for a number of reasons. This bill would prohibit an employer from refusing to grant a request by any employee to take up to 3 days of bereavement leave or to interfere with or restrain an employee from doing so. This bill would authorize an employee who has been discharged, disciplined, or discriminated against for exercising his or her right to bereavement leave to bring a civil action against his or her employer for reinstatement, specified damages, and attorney's fees. The provisions of the bill would not apply to an employee who is covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement that provides for bereavement leave and other specified working conditions.