Death of an Employee

Dear Dr. LeCrone:

I am the owner and manager of a company that employs about 100 people. Recently, one of the employees, a longtime employee whom we all admired and respected, died suddenly. Can you please give suggestions on the best ways for me to handle the tragic loss of this man? We are all in shock and pain at this time.

-A reader in Minnesota

Dear Reader:

Familiarize or review your knowledge of grieving. There are stages that many individuals go through including disbelief, shock, numbness, bargaining, anger, depression, and, finally, resolution. These elements of grief do not always follow the same pattern with each individual. In fact, they vary to a large degree from person to person in terms of both their expressions of grief and the time frame during which the grieving process takes place. Those individuals who knew and worked closely with the deceased may be more severely impacted by his death.

Managers generally want to be as helpful as possible but are often perplexed about the appropriate response to give to the grieving individual. Problems can arise if the troubled employee’s behavior endangers himself or someone else in the workplace. Impaired concentration and faulty decision-making are examples of these problems. Significant impairment in the individual’s performance and productivity can also occur during the grieving process. Be available to the employees to talk about their emotions, thoughts, and feelings that they might be experiencing if they indicate a desire to do so. However, don’t try to be a counselor but instead be a caring listener and a possible resource for professional referral if requested. Make the employee aware of any benefits including leave time during this period of adjustment. An Employee Assistance Program with professional grief counseling can also offer great help.

Try to avoid making major changes in the workplace immediately after the loss of your friend and employee. Creativity, enthusiasm, and decision making skills may be diminished when initial grieving occurs. Take it slow and let time be your ally.

Don’t expect everyone to say “the right thing.” Many times individuals do not know what to say and will inadvertently and unintentionally say the wrong thing due to anxiety and confusion about appropriate behavior.

Dealing with the trauma and loss of a valued employee and friend can present a big challenge for the whole organization. Know that a healthy work environment can return with time and planning.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr. Ph.D. Copyright © 2006