Guidance on Dealing with Bereavement in the Workplace

Employment experts Acas have released guidance for employers for managing bereavement. Bereavement can affect employees in many ways, including having a detrimental effect emotionally, physically and psychologically.

Research suggests that at any given time, one in ten employees are likely to be affected by grief and bereavement. The guidance aims to assist employers in managing bereavement in the workplace. This may be where an employee requires to take time off suddenly as a result of a bereavement, where the work on an employee is negatively affected by a bereavement or where an employee is temporarily unable to perform certain tasks they were previously responsible for.

The guide encourages support and compassion. It makes paramount that the organization should demonstrate that it values the well being of employees. This approach helps build loyalty and commitment in the work place, reduce sickness absence and help keep a good level of employee retention.

Bereavement in the workplace can be challenging to manage: employees may need to take time off unexpectedly; find their performance is impacted, or be temporarily unable to perform certain roles. However a compassionate and supportive approach demonstrates that the organisation values its employees, helps build commitment, reduce sickness absence, and retain the workforce.

However, the guide produced by Acas can assist employers in preparing a bereavement policy for their work place, and also in the kind of training to be given to managers or HR staff in discussing bereavement in a compassionate and effective way with employees.

If you would like advice or assistance in relation to an issue arising from the treatment of bereavement in the workplace, we can help.

Employment Lawyers Edinburgh

Whether you are an employee or an employer in need of advice in relation to bereavement or any other employment law issue in Edinburgh, Scotland, Employment Law Edinburgh's team of specialist Employment solicitors can help. To get in touch, you can either call us on 0131 516 7728 or complete our enquiry form.