Following the fire in Crans-Montana, many people spoke out in the media: offices that, overnight, found themselves empty; absent colleagues whom we know will not be returning… Grieving for loved ones is generally a private matter, but during a working week, we often spend more time with our colleagues than with some members of our own family. How do we deal with sadness, anger and a sense of emptiness? How should employers respond?
Family first
Aurélie Jung has conducted extensive research into the topic of bereavement in the workplace. She explains that the family of the deceased must always be the first to be involved. Do the relatives wish to inform colleagues of the date of the funeral? Are there any specific arrangements to be observed? Do the relatives wish to return to the office to collect the deceased’s belongings? All these questions arise, blending emotional considerations with the necessary formalities. Expressing condolences to the family through cards or sending flowers are gestures that should not be overlooked.
Link to the full interview with Aurelie
Administrative matters not to be overlooked
On an administrative level, anyone who has lost a loved one knows that the procedures can be cumbersome. The employer can be a great source of support by taking the initiative on certain matters, such as determining the account into which posthumous wages should be paid, and the procedures for claiming widows’ and widowers’ pensions, or orphans’ benefits… Swiss law grants one to two months’ back pay depending on length of service. Depending on the employment contract, additional benefits may be available. If the death occurs in the workplace, there are possibilities for accident pensions.
How should information be shared?
“In the event of a violent and unexpected death, unofficial information usually spreads very quickly,” says Aurélie Jung. Questions employers should anticipate: how to inform people officially, and in what order? In large sector-specific companies, the tendency is to inform immediate colleagues first, then the rest of the staff. But some departments are in contact with the entire workforce. In such cases, informing only close colleagues is not always the best choice.
Do not rank grief
The HETSL’s initiative to create a guide for companies was designed, among other things, to move beyond a hierarchical view of the severity of deaths. One may feel more affected by the death of a colleague one works with every day than by that of an aunt with whom one has little contact.
