Opinion: Bereavement leave bill to support families after loss of a child

Few tragedies compare to the death of a child. A family’s grief can endure a lifetime and yet our labor laws fail to reflect the depth and lasting impact of that loss.

As a father and a legislator, I believe that when our neighbors face unimaginable pain, our laws should reflect compassion as well as common sense.

That is the goal of H.2064, an act relative to bereavement leave for the loss of a child, legislation I filed in partnership with Chelmsford resident Dr. Kristen Dillon, founder of Junie’s Place Inc. and the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Foundation.

Under current Massachusetts and federal law, there is no guarantee of bereavement leave for employees. Many grieving parents are forced to return to work immediately after their child’s funeral.

H.2064 would guarantee 10 days of paid bereavement leave for parents coping with the death of a biological, adopted, step or foster child under the age of 18. This time allows families to manage funeral arrangements, seek counseling and begin their lifelong path towards healing, without jeopardizing their income or employment.

Employers would retain flexibility, and the law would not override any existing policy or collective bargaining agreement that already provides greater benefits.

The bill is a balanced, compassionate approach that meets families where they are while recognizing the realities of the workplace. No one should be forced to return to work immediately after such a devastating loss or risk losing income during their most vulnerable days. This bill provides a simple but powerful safeguard. It would ensure that parents who lose a child are entitled to 10 days of paid bereavement leave, which can be taken consecutively or non-consecutively within one year of the child’s death.

The bill was inspired by the advocacy of two remarkable organizations, Junie’s Place and the SUDC Foundation, both born from heartbreak and built on hope. Junie’s Place was founded in memory of Junie Dillon, a joyful 2-year-old from Chelmsford who died suddenly in 2022. Her mother, Dr. Kristen Dillon, created Junie’s Place after her own experience with trying to access resources and grief support. Junie’s Place offers free, compassionate grief support to families enduring the same unimaginable loss. Their mission reflects the best of who we are as a community, turning tragedy into care for others.

The SUDC Foundation is the only organization in the world dedicated to raising awareness, supporting research and serving families affected by sudden unexplained death in childhood.

Massachusetts has long led the nation in family-centered policy, from expanding paid family leave to pioneering health care reform. Extending paid bereavement leave to grieving parents is the next step in that tradition. Ten days is brief when measured against the lifelong grief that follows the loss of a child.

While we cannot prevent every tragedy, but we can ensure that when it happens, families are met with understanding and support, not bureaucracy and financial fear. H.2064 is a small but meaningful way our commonwealth can acknowledge the gravity of child loss and help families begin the long journey of healing with dignity and care.