Getting support at work
The death of a loved one is one of the hardest things any of us will go through – it's important to ask for help when you need it.
You don't need to try to cope on your own. Find out about who can help you with your feelings of grief and who can help with the practical issues you may face because of the death of your loved one.
Support from your work
You may have access to different types of support through your work. It can help to ask what's available, as it may not always be obvious.
Employee Assistance Programme
Your employer may have an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) or similar support. This sometimes involves a confidential assessment for short-term counselling. They may also be able to help with legal, practical or financial questions you have. You may be able to get a referral for other types of emotional support through work.
Your employer is likely to provide the contact details on your intranet or in the staff handbook – you wouldn't need to discuss how you feel with your employer if you don't want to.
Occupational health
An occupational health assessment looks at what you might need to do your job safely and effectively and how your employer can support you. This is often recommended when people have taken time off work. Your employer might have an occupational health adviser or they might use a different company to help with this. You can find out more about occupational health from Acas .
Support from your line manager
It can help to talk to your line manager about how you're feeling. They can talk with you about how they can best support you and what other help might be available.
If your grief is affecting your daily life and you feel unable to do your job, then you can also speak to your GP.
Support from your colleagues
Your colleagues may be able to provide a lot of help for you day-to-day. Things like having someone to talk to, someone to have lunch with or someone to notice if you're upset can make a huge difference. It might help to tell them how you'd like them to support you – sometimes people want to help but don't know how.
After your bereavement, you might feel distant to your colleagues or even resentful of their lives. You might also find it tiring to socialise with other people. It's normal to feel this way, but you might feel isolated. It can still help to reach out for support if you feel able to.
Your organisation might have a relevant staff network (such as a bereavement network) you could join. You may also have colleagues who are trained to help others, such as mental health first aiders or wellbeing advisers.
If you're not being supported at work
If you're not getting the support you need from your manager, you can speak to your HR team (or a more senior manager if you don't have an HR team).
If you're being treated unfairly or want to know more about your rights at work, you may find it useful to speak to your union or get advice from an organisation that specialises in work and employment rights such as Acas (in England, Wales and Scotland), the Labour Relations Agency (in Northern Ireland) or Citizens Advice .
How Marie Curie can provide support
There are lots of ways that we can help you. You can:
- contact the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309 or on web chat for a friendly listening ear and practical information
- access our bereavement telephone service through the Support Line
- find out more about getting support when someone dies.
You don’t need to have any previous contact with Marie Curie to access these free services. And it doesn’t matter what your relationship was to the person who died or how long ago the person died – we know that grief can affect everyone in different ways and at different times.
If your loved one was in contact with a Marie Curie hospice, the hospice might also be able to provide bereavement support. Contact the hospice directly to find out more.
Other types of support
We have more information about getting support when you're grieving including counselling, telephone support, face-to-face support and online communities.
Your GP
If you think that your feelings are affecting your daily life or your mental health, you can make an appointment to see your GP.
Support for bereavement and funerals
Find out about the many organisations and charities that can help with bereavement and funerals.
Support for issues connected with your work and employment rights
We have a list of organisations that can offer expert guidance and support for issues you may have with your work and employment rights.
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About this information
This information is not intended to replace any advice from legal, employment or HR professionals. We suggest that you consult with a qualified professional about your individual circumstances. Read more about how our information is created and how it's used.
