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Council broadens 'immediate family' definition for employee funeral leave
Summary
Shaker Heights amended its administrative code to expand the definition of 'immediate family' for funeral leave to include stepchildren, grandchildren and corresponding in‑laws; council approved the change unanimously on first reading as an emergency.
On Aug. 25 Shaker Heights City Council amended section 135.04 of the administrative code to expand the definition of “immediate family” for purposes of employee funeral leave. The change aligns the codified ordinance with language already in the city’s employee manual to reflect more diverse family structures.
Ms. Hayes explained the 2011 update to the non‑bargaining employee manual broadened the definition to list parents, grandparents, spouse, child, grandchild, stepchild, brother or sister and corresponding in‑laws. The codified ordinance had not reflected those manual changes; council voted to amend the ordinance so the code and manual match.
Council clarified the change does not extend funeral leave to aunts, uncles or cousins, which staff said are frequently requested but remain excluded. The administration and finance committees supported the amendment and council adopted the ordinance under suspension on first reading; the roll call was unanimous.
The ordinance was presented as an emergency so that the codified rules mirror the manual immediately.
