Half of UK employees who have lost a loved one are handling practical bereavement-related tasks during their working day, according to new research. The findings highlight the often-overlooked impact that grief and administrative responsibilities can have on employee wellbeing and workplace performance.
The YouGov survey, Octopus Group’s estate planning arm, Octopus Legacy, found that 53% of bereaved workers who were responsible for managing affairs after a death completed at least some of those tasks during normal working hours. These responsibilities included contacting banks, managing pensions, dealing with probate and completing paperwork while continuing with their jobs.
Four in five respondents (80%) said the practical responsibilities associated with bereavement negatively affected their ability to work. The findings suggest that many employees return to work while continuing to manage complex legal, financial and administrative processes linked to the death of someone close to them.
Bereavement Support Gaps Affect Workplace Wellbeing
Research also found that support from employers often falls short of what bereaved employees need. Only 8% said they received practical help from their employer, despite many facing ongoing administrative demands that can continue for weeks or months after a loss.
The study found that many employees would prefer human support rather than digital tools when dealing with bereavement. Nearly two-thirds (65%) said they would rather speak to a person for practical support, compared with just 3.2% who preferred an app or online platform.
A similar pattern emerged around emotional support. While 63% of respondents said they would prefer speaking to a person, only 1.6% chose an app as their preferred option. As a result of the pressures associated with bereavement, 41% of respondents reported taking additional leave beyond bereavement leave or reducing their working hours.
The practical burden of a death often continues long after employees return to work. Alongside coping with grief, many find themselves closing accounts, locating legal documents, contacting pension providers and navigating probate processes.
Addressing the Practical Impact of Grief
Sam Grice, founder and chief executive of Octopus Legacy, recalled his own experience with bereavement.
“Until Mum died I had no idea how much ‘death admin’ comes with loss,” he said. “It was utterly overwhelming. For a lot of people, working hours are the only time they can move any of it forward, so they end up juggling a full-time job while also chasing death certificates, calling banks and working out what happens next.
“Most employers want to do the right thing. They offer time off, flexibility, sympathy and care. But too often it stops there. For employers, this is a real workforce issue, as well as a human one. People are missing days, losing focus, reducing hours and, in some cases, leaving work altogether.
“The emotional weight of a bereavement can’t be taken away. The practical burden can. Employers have a real opportunity to make a measurable difference at one of life’s hardest moments, by giving people the practical and emotional support that lets them focus on what matters, at home and at work.”
Debbie Fennel, Head of Benefits at DHL Supply Chain UKI, said that while many organisations already offer counselling, bereavement support and helplines, the less visible administrative burden of grief can be harder for managers to identify.
“A manager may see that someone needs time, flexibility or care, but not necessarily the call to the bank at lunch, the form being filled in late at night, or the documents being chased between shifts and we do not want our employees carrying that burden alone,” she said.