TechHR
ex
L&D
UNPLUGGED
Sphere
About Us • Contact Us
People Matters ANZ
People Matters Logo
Login / Signup
People Matters Logo
Login / Signup
  • Current
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Research
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcast

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

  • HotTopic
    HR Folk Talk FutureProofHR
  • Strategy
    Leadership Csuite StrategicHR EmployeeRelations BigInterview
  • Recruitment
    Employer Branding Appointments Permanent Hiring Recruitment
  • Performance
    Skilling PerformanceMgmt Compensation Benefits L&D Employee Engagement
  • Culture
    Culture Life@Work Diversity Watercooler SheMatters
  • Tech
    Technology HR Technology Funding & Investment Startups Metaverse
  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Become a sponsor
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • Write For Us

Follow us:

Privacy Policy • Terms of Use

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

People Matters Logo
  • Current
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Research
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcast
Login / Signup

Categories:

  • HotTopic
    HR Folk Talk FutureProofHR
  • Strategy
    Leadership Csuite StrategicHR EmployeeRelations BigInterview
  • Recruitment
    Employer Branding Appointments Permanent Hiring Recruitment
  • Performance
    Skilling PerformanceMgmt Compensation Benefits L&D Employee Engagement
  • Culture
    Culture Life@Work Diversity Watercooler SheMatters
  • Tech
    Technology HR Technology Funding & Investment Startups Metaverse
Handling tragedy: HR’s role when an employee or their loved one passes on

Story • 2nd Apr 2025 • 3 Min Read

Handling tragedy: HR’s role when an employee or their loved one passes on

Employee Engagement

Author: Gunja Sharan Gunja Sharan
715 Reads
One should remember that it is not just a duty – it is a deeply human one.

The death of employees or their loved one is a heart-wrenching and devastating moment. It is a profound loss that no company or individual is ever truly prepared for, yet it is in these darkest moments that HR must rise to the occasion. 

With compassion and grace, HR can become the pillar of support, offering solace and strength to the grieving employee and his/her family members, guiding them through this painful process with dignity and care. The responsibility is immense, as HR must balance the weight of sorrow without hampering the administrative tasks, while also taking into consideration the emotional well-being of those affected. 

There are specific legal, cultural, and organisational considerations that HR personnel should be aware of while managing the situation with empathy and respect. In particular, HR should be mindful of cultural and traditional differences when dealing with death at workplaces, and respect employees' own practices when offering time off or other forms of support. 

At the most basic level, here are a few practical steps HR may take.

Supporting the bereaved

Offer condolences to the family: The first step is one of empathy; HR personnel will need to convey the organisation's condolences, in verbal or written form, to the family of the deceased. This might extend to coordinating a company-wide tribute, such as arranging flowers, or donations, or even support with a memorial or other service.

Final payment and other benefits, if the deceased is an employee: If the deceased is an employee, HR should immediately process any final payments, including any accrued leave entitlements for example, annual leave, sick leave etc., and ensure that any outstanding benefits (for example superannuation and insurance) are settled according to prevailing regulations and where applicable, the employee's indicated wishes.

Compassionate arrangements, if the deceased is a loved one: Besides the mandatory entitlement provided for by the National Employment Standards (Australia) or the Holidays Act (New Zealand), individual companies will have their own provisions for compassionate leave and other arrangements. This may include flexible working arrangements for the employee, such as adjusted work hours, lighter workloads, or extended time off. HR can  also offer grief counselling via EAP. 

Assisting with applicable benefits: Bearing in mind that the bereaved employee - or the family of a deceased employee - may not be in a good headspace to handle the claims process, HR may be in a better position to liaise with the insurance or other provider. Some ways of support might be to assist with the related paperwork or even guide the bereaved in claiming applicable survivor benefits.

Managing the workplace impact

Within the workplace, HR will have additional duties, particularly if the deceased is an employee.

Securing a late employee's work and data: HR personnel should ensure that the late employee's company systems, email accounts, passwords, and files are securely accessed or closed to prevent the misuse of data. HR can involve IT, legal teams, or any external service providers to get help.

Assessing work and project status: HR should work with the employee's manager to assess how pending work and projects may be managed. This might involve redistributing the work or making temporary staffing arrangements, depending on the late employee's role and responsibilities.

Return of company property: If applicable, HR should coordinate the return of any company property the late employee may have had during his tenure with the company, such as a laptop, key, car, or phone. This should be done in accordance with the family’s wishes. 

Offering emotional support to co-workers: The death of a colleague can deeply affect coworkers. HR should ensure that other employees have access to grief counseling through employee assistance programmes, or access to support networks. HR should also work with managers and leadership team to encourage an open and supportive environment for colleagues to express their feelings.

Read More

Did you find this article helpful?


You Might Also Like

Creating a culture of workplace civility

STORY • 23rd Apr 2025 • 4 Min Read

Creating a culture of workplace civility

Employee Engagement#MentalHealth
Gen Z and Total Rewards: Preparing for the Future

STORY • 21st Mar 2025 • 6 Min Read

Gen Z and Total Rewards: Preparing for the Future

Employee RelationsEmployee EngagementTalent Management#RedefiningRewards#Future of Work#AdaptableHR
Farewell hybrid work? Not for these major banks

STORY • 28th Feb 2025 • 3 Min Read

Farewell hybrid work? Not for these major banks

Employee EngagementLife @ Work#HybridWorkplace#Flexibility
NEXT STORY: Gen Z and Total Rewards: Preparing for the Future of Work

Trending Stories

  • design-thinking-hr

    ChatGPT Walks It Back — AI Giants Race Ahead

  • design-thinking-hr

    Skype is dead: Did Microsoft's leadership let a billion-doll...

  • design-thinking-hr

    From copy-paste to creative spark: mastering generative AI i...

  • design-thinking-hr

    Keeping the C-suite in the C-suite - how do we reduce execut...

People Matters Logo

Follow us:

Join our mailing list:

By clicking “Subscribe” button above, you are accepting our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Company:

  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Become a sponsor
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Contact:

  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • Write For Us

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Get the latest Articles, Insight, News & Trends from the world of Talent & Work. Subscribe now!
People Matters Logo

Welcome Back!

or

Enter your registered email address to login

Not a user yet? Lets get you signed up!

A 5 digit OTP has been sent to your email address.

This is so we know it's you. Haven't received it yet? Resend the email or then change your email ID.

People Matters Logo

Welcome! Let's get you signed up...

Starting with the absolulte basics.

Already a user? Go ahead and login!

A 5 digit OTP has been sent to your email address.

This is so we know it's you. Haven't received it yet? Resend the email or then change your email ID.

Let's get to know you better

We'll never share your details with anyone, pinky swear.

And lastly...

Your official designation and company name.