Some colleagues may have lost friends and family members during this period and could be apprehensive about returning or being in the workplace, so it is important that this is something employers should bear in mind.
Employees will manage their grief in different ways, this could include a delayed impact. As an employer you should be considering what level of support you can provide to the bereaved employee. They may be feeling a level of detachment that the rest of the team could struggle to empathise with.
During lockdown, it could have been difficult for the bereaved employee to undertake activities to help preoccupy them and subsequently help them deal with the death. The feeling of being very alone could have been exaggerated if they were not able to see their family, friends, colleagues and networks to get the support needed. Employers should be mindful of this.
Consideration should be made to the employee’s mental health and how this could have been affected during this time. Having no outlay for the grief because of social distancing measures can cause things to build up, alongside natural anxiety about COVID, this can lead to increased mental health issues.
As an employer there are measures and support you can offer to help them through their grieving process. Some examples are:
- Offering counselling services
- Make them aware of bereavement support charities
- Making sure that although we are working from home or socially distanced there are still people to talk to
- Hold regular wellbeing reviews to support them and give the opportunity to talk
- Host regular team catch-ups on virtual platforms to maintain team spirit
- Be clear on your expectations and workload, consider what is appropriate
- Ensure their line manager is clear on the support available.
Following a bereavement, many people do not know where to turn and with current restrictions it is even more important that as an employer you offer that support.
Many organisations in today’s world have been focusing on increased levels of wellbeing support and ensuring that their wellbeing strategy is clearly communicated to staff. However, if you have not got round to reviewing this support and you are not sure where to begin, please get in touch. We can help to draft a wellbeing strategy and provide an ongoing wellbeing package tailored to your organisations requirements. Just contact one of our team on 01924 827869 to discuss your needs and how we can help support both you and your employees. You can also find out more about the type of support that could be offered on our Wellbeing page.
