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Coping With Bereavement at Work
A Supportive Guide to Grief in the Workplace
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Grief doesn’t stick to your out-of-office hours. You might find yourself sitting at your desk, reading the same email three times and still not taking it in—or suddenly feeling overwhelmed by something small that wouldn’t usually bother you. That’s the nature of bereavement. It affects your focus, your mood, your energy levels, and how you interact with people around you.
At PMAC, we’ve worked with many people navigating this experience. It’s not unusual to feel as though you’re only half-present at work, or that you’re putting on a brave face while trying to carry on with your responsibilities. If you’ve lost someone close to you, even everyday tasks can feel unfamiliar or emotionally exhausting.
It’s important to know this isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a completely human response to loss. The emotional weight of bereavement often comes in waves, and those waves don’t stop when you return to your desk. That’s why coping with bereavement at work calls for patience, understanding—and the right kind of support. Fortunately, we’re here to help you find it.
Understanding the Grieving Process
There’s no ‘right’ way to grieve. For some people, coping with bereavement at work may look like getting back into a work routine that can offer structure, distraction, or even a sense of normality. For others, the idea of returning to work too soon feels completely unmanageable—and that’s okay too. When you’re coping with bereavement, your needs can shift from day to day, and it’s important to honour what feels right for you.
Grief is personal. While some people might find comfort in staying busy, others may need time away from responsibilities to rest, reflect, or simply breathe. You might want to talk openly about your loss, or you might prefer not to. All of these responses are valid.
The grieving process can bring up a wide range of emotions—sadness, anger, guilt, numbness, confusion. You might also notice physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or poor concentration, which can make work tasks feel harder than usual. These experiences often show up without warning, especially in familiar environments like the workplace.
Although grief is often described in stages—like denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—most people don’t move through them in a neat or linear way. You might loop back, skip around, or feel several emotions at once. The important thing to remember is that whatever you’re feeling, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to push through it without support.
How to Navigate Your Return to Work
Coming back to work after losing someone can feel like stepping into a different world. Even familiar tasks may seem unfamiliar, and your energy might not be what it used to be. It’s completely normal to feel anxious, disconnected, or unsure how others will respond to you.
It’s also natural to feel emotionally drained or more sensitive than usual in the early days. You might find yourself needing more space or time to collect your thoughts. Taking regular breaks, planning in moments of quiet, or stepping away briefly can help you manage your energy. You don’t need to pretend to be okay—allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling, without judgement.
Your return might feel easier if you:
Ease back in gradually: If possible, discuss a phased return with your manager. Starting with reduced hours or a lighter workload can give you space to adjust.
Keep communication open: Let your line manager or HR team know what you’re comfortable sharing. You don’t need to go into detail, but setting expectations can help reduce pressure.
Give yourself permission to take breaks: Whether it’s a short walk or a few minutes of quiet, small pauses throughout the day can make a big difference.
Accept that your focus may vary: Your brain is doing a lot behind the scenes. It’s okay if your usual pace or productivity takes time to return.
Be kind to yourself: As we’ve mentioned, grief doesn’t follow a straight line. Your capacity, focus, and mood may fluctuate from day to day. That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
Your colleagues may not always know what to say. Some might avoid the topic entirely out of discomfort, while others may ask questions with the best intentions. Either way, you’re not obliged to talk about your loss if you’re not ready. It’s perfectly okay to set boundaries and protect your emotional space.
Returning to work is a significant step, and part of coping with bereavement in a healthy, manageable way is allowing yourself time to adjust. You don’t have to bounce back straight away. Grief takes up space, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.
How Your Workplace Can Support You Through Grief
When you’re coping with bereavement at work, a supportive workplace can make a world of difference. Grief doesn’t stop when you walk through the office doors, and having an employer who understands that can help you feel safer, more grounded, and better equipped to get through the day.
Here’s how your workplace can—and should—support you:
Compassionate policies
A thoughtful bereavement policy is a good starting point, but real support goes beyond what’s written down. The best workplaces offer:
• Paid bereavement leave that reflects the reality of loss
• Flexibility to adjust hours or responsibilities temporarily
• Clear guidance for managers on how to support grieving team members
An open and respectful culture
Grief can feel isolating, especially if people around you don’t know what to say. A compassionate culture means:
• Your emotions are acknowledged, not ignored
• You’re not pressured to “get back to normal” straight away
• You feel able to say what you need—or what you don’t
Mental health and wellbeing resources
Grieving employees may benefit from additional wellbeing support, such as:
• Access to counselling or an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Mental health awareness training for managers and colleagues
• A clear point of contact if you’re struggling with the return to work
Seeking a Support Network Outside of Work
Support from the people around you can make a big difference when you’re coping with bereavement, especially outside the workplace. Whether it’s friends, family, neighbours, or a wider community, having someone to lean on can offer a sense of connection when things feel heavy.
Grief can feel isolating, even when you’re not physically alone. The people close to you might not always know what to say, but small gestures—a quiet chat, help with errands, or simply sitting together—can bring comfort and ease some of the pressure.
It’s okay to let others know what you need. You might want to talk openly about your loss, or you may just want distraction and company. Either way, sharing how you’re feeling helps those around you support you in a way that feels right—for today, at least.
You might also find comfort in local groups, online communities, or faith-based organisations. Being in touch with others who’ve experienced something similar can help you feel less alone, especially on the harder days.
Accepting help doesn’t mean you’re not coping, it means you’re giving yourself space to heal, in your own time and your own way. A strong personal support network can gently hold you as you adjust to life after loss and remind you that you don’t have to go through it all on your own.
Making Bereavement Leave in the UK More Inclusive
At present, UK law offers a basic right to time off for employees if a dependant dies—this includes a partner, parent, child, or someone who relied on you for care. However, this right is usually unpaid and doesn’t extend to all kinds of loss, which can leave many people unsupported in the workplace when they need it most.
To make bereavement leave more inclusive, employers can:
1. Acknowledge diverse relationships
Not all meaningful losses fall under the legal definition of a dependant. Inclusive policies should recognise that grief can come from the loss of:
• Grandparents, siblings, or extended family
• Close friends or housemates
• Ex-partners or estranged family members
• Pregnancy loss, including miscarriage and stillbirth
• Beloved pets, which can have a profound emotional impact
By expanding definitions, businesses show empathy for the different forms grief can take.
2. Avoid rigid timelines
Grief doesn’t disappear after a few days. Inclusive policies might allow:
• A longer period of leave for those who need it
• Flexibility in when the leave is taken, as the emotional impact may surface later
• Phased returns to help employees ease back in gradually
3. Offer paid bereavement leave
Unpaid leave can create financial pressure at an already stressful time. By offering paid bereavement leave, employers show that they prioritise emotional wellbeing without placing additional strain on the employee.
4. Support cultural and religious needs
Different cultures and faiths grieve in different ways, and some may involve specific mourning periods, rituals, or travel. Inclusive bereavement policies should accommodate these, without forcing employees to use annual leave.
5. Train managers to respond with empathy
Inclusivity isn’t just about policies, it’s about how those policies are put into practice. Line managers should receive training to respond to bereavement with compassion, respect privacy, and offer appropriate adjustments without making assumptions.
Grief is deeply personal, and no two losses are exactly the same. Inclusive bereavement policies recognise this by acknowledging the different ways people experience and express grief—not just in terms of who they’ve lost, but how they process it.
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List of Resources & Services for Support Following Bereavement
Coping with the loss of a loved one is never easy, but having the right support can make a big difference. Whether it’s guidance, counselling, or practical advice, there are plenty of services across the UK ready to help you through this difficult time. Everyone’s journey is different, so you can find support that suits your needs.
Here is a list of trusted resources that may be helpful:
Cruse Bereavement Support
Offers free and confidential support through trained volunteers, online chat, helpline, and local services.
Website: www.cruse.org.uk
Samaritans
Available 24/7 for anyone struggling to cope, including those affected by grief. You don’t need to be in crisis to contact them.
Website: www.samaritans.org | Phone: 116 123 (free)
NHS Bereavement Support
Provides guidance on mental health support, accessing counselling, and what to expect when grieving.
Website: www.nhs.uk
At a Loss
A signposting website that connects you to local and national bereavement support services.
Website: www.ataloss.org
Mind
Information and advice on grief and bereavement, especially where mental health is impacted.
Website: www.mind.org.uk
The Good Grief Trust
Brings together bereavement services and peer support networks. Includes support tailored to different types of loss.
Website: www.thegoodgrieftrust.org
Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)
If available through your employer, these may include confidential counselling, legal advice, or emotional support.
Knowing where to turn when coping with bereavement at work can ease some of the pressure during difficult times, and allow you to take steps towards healing at your own pace.
There’s No Timeline for Grief
Grief doesn’t follow a neat schedule. It doesn’t clock in and out, or resolve itself within a set number of days. The emotional weight of a loss can rise and fall—sometimes quietly in the background, other times catching you off guard with its intensity.
What you need at the beginning of your grief may not be what you need weeks or months down the line. And that’s okay.
You might start by needing space, quiet, and time away from work. Later, routine might bring you comfort, or distraction. Even then, certain dates or memories can stir things up all over again. This doesn’t mean you’re doing grief “wrong.” It means you’re human.
The best thing you can do—for yourself and your wellbeing—is to stay in touch with how you’re feeling.
Let your employer know when something changes. You may find that a conversation you had early on needs revisiting. Perhaps what helped at first no longer feels right, or you now need something different: a quieter space, a little more flexibility, or simply the reassurance that you’re not expected to carry on as if nothing’s changed.
Being open about your experience gives those around you the chance to meet you with care. Grief may not fade, but it does shift. And with time, compassion, and the right support, so does your way of carrying it.
There’s no single way to cope with bereavement—just your way, unfolding day by day.
Originally published: 23/04/2025
Last updated: 23/04/2025