Coping with Loss in the Workplace
This week’s article, “Am I Legally Required To Give Bereavement Leave?” suggests that although there is no federal law that requires employers to offer bereavement leave for their employees, the details of a company’s bereavement policy should be made clear. Organizations should outline for their employees specifics of the policy such as the number of days they are allowed, whether the time is paid or unpaid, and whether it is allowed for strictly family members or for friends as well.
While bereavement leave is highly beneficial to employees, the grieving process doesn’t just end after the funeral. Grief is a traumatic experience that can diminish a person’s energy and motivation, and can alter their ability to think rationally. Often times, an employee carries the grief of losing a loved one to the workplace and it can have serious effects on their quality of work and can negatively impact co-workers.
Since grief and death affects everyone it different ways, these are topics that even HR managers can be unprepared to handle. Additional assistance is often needed to address issues of grief in an employees’ life. In order to aid an employee's journey through the grieving process organizations can provide support programs such as awareness workshops or grief counseling made available through an EAP.
Organizations have the ability to create a workplace environment that effectively addresses the grief process and should look to implement the programs that support their bereavement leave policies.
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