My question involves employment and labor law for the state of: PA

Hi all. I work for a backwards company. No two ways about it. I am trying to determine if I have any options in this situation.

First, as defined by my employee handbook, my company defines "immediate family" (under the bereavement section) as a spouse, mother, father, child, or grandparent. Secondly, under the sick time section, my company states that sick time is only available for use by the employee for him/herself or to care for an immediate family member. However, under this section, "immediate family" is defined as a spouse, parent, or child.

My elderly grandfather (he's 88) has needed additional help recently. As his only son (my father) has since passed, the responsibilities for caring for him have fallen to me.

Over the holiday, I needed to get my grandfather to the ER and to several doctors in a single day. I spoke to my supervisor and requested to use sick time. She informed me that this use of sick time didn't qualify, that it was only for immediate family, and that I would need to take unpaid time off. I questioned her (based on what I found in the handbook) and was told it was company policy. I have since sent emails to both the VP of the division and to our VP of HR in order to get clarification about my company's definition of "immediate family" but suspect this will just be ignored (as numerous other concerns have been).

Do I have anything legally I can do? I'm assuming nothing will happen by pushing the employee manual angle - or they will just release an addendum clarifying the definition. Thanks.