If an employee or co-worker dies, it can affect other employees and the workplace. 

The employer should:

• tell others at work the person has died, in a sensitive and personal way
• offer support to staff affected by the death
• contact the person’s family or next of kin to offer condolences
• let staff know how they can give their condolences
• share details of the funeral or ceremony, if staff have been invited

Offering support

It’s a good idea to:

• talk to staff regularly to see how they’re coping
• signpost staff to any support that’s available to them

Find out more on supporting staff during bereavement.

It might be appropriate to honour the person who died with others at work. For example, you might consider:

• organising a book of condolence for staff to share their memories of the person who died
• holding an event or service to honour the person who died, inviting the family or next of kin as well, if appropriate

Finalising an employee’s affairs

The employer of the person who died should put their family or next of kin in touch with someone who works in HR or a senior manager and can answer any questions about:

• the employment contract
• pay
• their pension
• other benefits
• returning any personal belongings