The Issue

In Louisiana, there is no law requiring employers to provide bereavement leave — paid or unpaid — even when a parent loses a child.

There is also no federal law that guarantees bereavement leave for workers.

This means grieving parents are often forced to return to work within days… or risk losing their job — not because they are ready, but because the law offers them no protection.

At the same time, most workplaces provide no training or guidance on how to support someone experiencing traumatic grief. Parents are left to face:

Stigma — especially around suicide loss

Hurtful or insensitive comments

Pressure to “move on”

Isolation and retraumatization

In Louisiana, something as life-altering as losing a child is treated as a personal inconvenience instead of a protected life event.

This is not compassionate. It’s not humane. And it must change.

What is Sage’s Law?

Sage’s Law is a proposed Louisiana state law that would:

1️⃣ Require Paid Bereavement Leave for Parents Who Lose a Child

A minimum of 10–14 days of paid leave

Job protection during bereavement

The option to use additional PTO or sick leave

Inclusive of all causes of death, including suicide

2️⃣ Require Workplace Grief & Compassion Training

Education on how to support grieving coworkers

Understanding trauma and suicide loss

Guidance on what to say—and what not to say

Access to Louisiana mental health resources

This training can be implemented through organizations like AFSP Louisiana, NAMI Louisiana, or certified grief professionals.

Why This Matters

Louisiana law already recognizes the importance of protecting workers in many areas — yet it provides no protection at all for grieving parents.

Employers are not required to give time off.

They are not required to provide support.

And they are not required to ensure a safe, compassionate workplace for those experiencing traumatic loss.

Every year, families in Louisiana lose children to suicide, illness, violence, and tragedy — and are expected to continue working as if nothing happened.

This is more than a workplace issue.

This is a public health issue.

This is a human issue.

Grieving parents are not asking for special treatment — only the time and dignity to survive the unimaginable.

My Story — And Why I’m Fighting

My name is Sheila Landry, and I am Sage’s mother.

My son was kind, gentle, funny, deeply empathetic, and full of life. Losing him to suicide shattered my world.

In the middle of that grief, I faced a harsh truth: there were no protections, no guaranteed time to grieve, and little understanding from the world around me.

The law did not recognize my loss.

The workplace was not prepared for my grief.

No parent should have to navigate that kind of pain while worrying about their job.

That is why I created Sage’s Law.

In Honor of Sage

Sage’s life mattered. His story matters.

Through this law, his legacy can help ensure that no other parent is left without time, support, or compassion in their darkest moment.

What You Can Do

Sign this petition and urge Louisiana lawmakers to pass Sage’s Law:

✔ Paid bereavement leave for parents

✔ Workplace grief and compassion training

✔ Trauma-informed support

✔ Recognition of child loss as a protected life event

Right now, the law is silent. Your voice can change that.

Please sign. Please share.

Let’s make Louisiana a state that leads with compassion.

🕊️ In loving memory of Sage

💜 And for every parent whose life has been forever changed