California Extends Bereavement Leave to a “Designated Person”

Effective January 1, 2027, California employees will have the right to take bereavement leave for a chosen family member. SB 1149 will amend the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) to add “designated person” to the definition of family member for bereavement leave purposes. Employees (with at least 30 days of employment) with a covered employer (5+ employees) can request up to five days of unpaid bereavement leave for the death of a family member or “designated person.” A designated person can be any “any individual related to the employee by blood or whose association with the employee is the