Some Companies, like the my employers allow you leave for bereavement, usually of up to five days. However, this is limited to direct family, being spouse, child or parent only. It really depends how sympathetic and flexible your employer wants to be.
Because he has lunch cancer which has spread to his heart, it was ditected at a very late stage and he has a matter of days to live... anymore details????
Like 'chelle I think compassionate leave is only for direct family,e.g a parent,husband/wife or a child.
Couldn't you try phoning your Personnel Officer (or HR) if you can't contact your boss. They should be able to give you the companys policy
I can't see what more anyone can add. There is no entitlement if your company says so. Nothing we say can change that. All you can do is ask again about unpaid leave. I wish you luck
Most UK companies will only allow paid "Compassionate Leave" for a partner/spouse/child/parent,but usually not a Grandparent..
For other relatives you would be required to either take it as unpaid leave,or if you choose use up any paid holiday leave that you have left(or a combination of the two if your holiday leave is not sufficient)
I know what it is to have family funerals to attend to when living abroad. The only thing you can do is to (sadly) wait for funeral details then you know exactly when you need to fly out using the minimum of time away from work. If say, the funeral was for a Monday, you'd have the weekend to travel and could possibly come back same night or following day. Yes, it's costly but that's part of life; nobody knows these things in advance.