Managing an employee who has experienced a bereavement requires compassion, sensitivity, and flexibility. How you respond as a manager will make a significant difference to how supported your colleague feels and how prepared they are to return to work.
Understanding and managing grief
The following websites can help you learn more about grief and how it can affect people:
- Grief after bereavement or loss, NHS
- Understanding grief, Cruse Bereavement Support
- The Experience of Grief, National Bereavement Service
- For newly bereaved, The Good Grief Trust
Finding someone to speak to
The following organisations offer practical or emotional support for people who need to talk to someone about a bereavement:
- Cruse Bereavement Support
- Joy app - Cruse Bereavement Support Self Referrals
- West Cumbria Mental Health Partnership
- Marie Curie
- Sue Ryder
- AtaLoss
- Citizens Advice
Cumbria Bereavement Services Partnership
The Cumbria Bereavement Services Partnership is a multi-organisational group bringing together bereavement support providers, statutory services and voluntary organisations. The group shares information and good practice to support people across Cumbria.
You can contact the partnership email.
Chair
Email: [email protected]
Admin
Email: [email protected]
Suicide prevention
Every Life Matters is a Cumbrian suicide prevention and bereavement support charity. The organisation provides practical and emotional support in the early weeks and months following a bereavement by suicide. Support is available in person, by phone or online.
Find out more on the Every Life Matters website.
Compassionate bereavement support for managers
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) provides practical advice to help managers support grieving employees with compassion and flexibility, both immediately after a bereavement and over the longer term.
A guide to compassionate bereavement support for line managers (PDF)