Changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic

For many people, working life looks very different since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

There has been a huge increase in home-working and ‘hybrid’ working, meaning many people having less face-to-face contact with colleagues than previously. Others have retained the same level of face-to-face contact, but may deal with other work pressures, staff absence, high workloads and multiple bereavements at work.

All of this can make the practicalities of supporting bereaved employees or colleague seem more difficult and daunting. If colleagues are working from home, a little more effort may be required to provide unobtrusive support and maintain awareness of someone’s wellbeing needs. However, the same best practice principles apply as outined elsewhere in this toolkit. The resources below provide some helpful guidance relating specifically to the coronavirus pandemic.

Further resources

• Dealing with bereavement in the workplace (NHS Education for Scotland)
• Coronovirus and mental health at work (ACAS)
• Coronavirus, bereavement and grief (Cruse Bereavement Support)