When an employee dies

Dealing with next of kin when an employee dies

When an employee dies at work, you will need to deal with the next of kin very sensitively. A manager who knew the employee well may be the most appropriate person to break the news, or sometimes a colleague who knows the family well may volunteer.

At an appropriate time, you will need to inform the next of kin about their entitlement to:

• life assurance or death-in-service benefits
• remaining wage or salary payments
• pension entitlements
• any personal effects the deceased may have stored at the workplace

After establishing when the funeral is to take place, it is a good idea to ask the next of kin whether colleagues of the deceased are welcome to attend.

You may wish to send a letter of condolence to the family of the deceased. You might also want to organise a floral arrangement to send to the funeral, or arrange some other tribute, and allow employees to contribute towards this.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• The legal implications when an employee dies at work
• Practical steps when an employee dies
• Letting people know when an employee dies
• Dealing with next of kin when an employee dies

 

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