A charity has today published a guide for employers that aims to educate them on dealing with bereavement in the workplace.
Report author Breffni McGuinness
In a survey commissioned by the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF), it was revealed that most companies do not know how to deal with grieving employees.
In the guide, entitled Grief at Work - Developing a Bereavement Policy, the IHF is calling for employers to develop bereavement policy that promotes "openness and an understanding of employees bereavement".
Report author Breffni McGuinness believes the reason organisations have not developed bereavement policy is because death is seen as a taboo subject in the workplace.
"Most of us feel uncomfortable around death. It's one of those things we can't fix," he said. "Although most of the firms believed that an employee's performance is affected by bereavement, just one of those surveyed had a written policy."
Mr McGuinness said the guide aims to avoid the situation where loss becomes an "elephant in the room - something that can't be talked about".
Speaking at the publication, Congress General Secretary David Begg said that social support is "the most important single factor in coming to terms with grief."
"Most companies are good at short-term support for employees but may not understand the need for long term support. Yet it can be six to 24 months before the full impact of the loss begins to sink in."