Coping with loss in the workplace requires more than just implementing a policy

Perhaps no other subject in the workplace requires more sensitive treatment than the death of an employee. Bonds among people who work together every day can be strong, and coworkers can be left reeling from the loss of one of their own.

Even the loss of an employee's family member has an impact on the workplace and requires compassion from management with regard to time off for the bereaved worker. Some employers don't have a formal policy addressing bereavement leave, opting instead to handle the situation case by case. Others craft specific policies spelling out how much time off an employee can take after losing a family member. There are pros and cons to each approach: Implementing a policy provides clarity, but not every situation fits neatly into even the most carefully written policy.

Whether you're dealing with the death of a member of your workforce or helping an employee through a loss, you need to have a plan when a tragedy occurs.

What to do when an employee dies

It's never easy when a coworker dies, so management needs to handle the situation carefully. The first step is to contact the deceased employee's family to express condolences and find out how they want his coworkers informed of his death. Sometimes, the family wants to keep certain details private.