07/27/2021
Some Employers, who have never experienced a personal loss, need to understand when an employee looses in death, a spouse, parent or child that their employee’s life has come to a stand still. They actually feel sometimes outside their body or as if their body has turned inside out. They want the world to stop as their world has stopped. They are merely going through the motions of life. Even if this was an expected loss and they have had many days, weeks or months expecting the loss of this love one. They are still in shock and at a loss many months after. The surviving love one responsible for the finalization of necessary paper work does not end at the funeral or memorial service.
They need time to finalize all the necessary paper work after the funeral. They need time to gather all the forms that are needed to be filled out to claim Life Insurance, Social Security, personal property, charge cards, doctor bills, hospital bills, writing Thank you notes and if necessary cleaning out of homes and personal items. So many things need to be done while they are still grieving for their loss of that love one.
Many people do not understand it takes 1-3 weeks for a Certified Death Certificate to be returned from the state it was filed, (Depending on the State of death, doctors or coroners signature) and they can not do much of what needs to be done till they have these important papers and forms from Insurance companies’, etc... Most of this can only be accomplished during normal working hours and days. The love ones left behind to tackle this trying task need to have paid time off from work or work half days to accomplish it all and not feel the stress or pressure of possibly loosing their job.
I had a dear friend who lost her husband and had been home to take care of him till his death and when she returned to work, they not only added to her job of duties, but changed her desk to an office facing a wall. She was use to being with the public and helping others and her employer had added to her hours of work also. Not only had her life changed and turned upside down at home, but all that she was familiar with at work had changed also.
I have seen many spouses and children who are left to do all the necessary paper work and cleaning up be under so much stress do to the pressure of the employer that they are afraid of loosing their job. One instance, we had a gentleman who lost his wife and after the funeral arrangement were made, before her services, he went into to work the next day and he was laid off.
If I may suggest, these love ones who are your valued employees, may need assistance from your HR Department or appoint someone in the business just for this task to lend a helping hand. Sometimes, just an offer of assistance would be of comfort to them. Their routine or job need not be added to or changed, because this is the one thing they feel comfortable and reassured in themselves of accomplishing.
I only ask for those Employers who may not have ever experienced or understand to please, please put back the humanity and compassion that businesses use to have for their employees. You will see more given back to you from your employee in the future.
Thank You!
