One in four Britons do not take time off work following a family bereavement, a poll has found.
A survey of 2,000 workers who had all experienced a death in the family found that 25 per cent didn’t take a single day off work to mourn.
A further 10 per cent took just one day off to grieve, with the remaining 65 per cent taking two or more days off following the death of a family member.
The study, by family-run funeral service provider CPJ Field – which has more than 30 branches around the UK – found that 98 per cent of those polled said that time off work was ‘necessary’ following the death of a loved one.
One in four Britons do not take time off work following a family bereavement, a poll has found
Despite this, however, many Brits didn’t take any time off, citing ‘job worries’ and ‘too much to do’ among the reasons why they didn’t take days off to mourn.
The poll found that 30 per cent of those quizzed said people should have a minimum of three weeks off work following the death of a partner or a child.
A total of 40 per cent of those polled said they ‘felt pressured’ to conceal their grief when they returned to work.
Debbie Kerslake, chief executive of Cruse Bereavement Care, the leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said there was a ‘huge lack of understanding’ over bereavement.
Speaking last week, she said ‘There is a huge lack of understanding in the UK around bereavement and its emotional and practical impact.
‘You simply cannot go back to work immediately after a significant loss and act as if nothing has changed.
‘From speaking to bereaved families, we know a lot of people simply don’t have the option to take time off work after a loved one’s death.
‘There is currently no statutory requirement for employers to offer time off for bereavement. Doctors routinely have to sign people off work for depression or stress, because grief and bereavement aren’t recognised options.’
The poll found that 30 per cent of those quizzed said people should have a minimum of three weeks off work following the death of a partner or a child
Jeremy Field, managing director of CPJ Field said: ‘Looking at these figures, it’s clear there is a gap between how much compassionate leave UK workers think they need, and how much they are actually able to take.
‘It was encouraging in the recent General Election to see bereavement leave policies in the manifestos of the main political parties, but the research suggests that more needs to be done to ensure we take the proper time out to grieve after the death of someone close to us.’
Ann Newsham, HR consultant, said: ‘Many companies choose to have a bereavement leave policy in place, but it’s important to treat this as a guide, rather than a strict set of rules.
‘Every employee’s experience of grief and loss is unique, and companies need to approach it on a case-by-case basis.
‘It’s also important for employers to take time to really understand their employee’s needs – speak to them, make sure they feel supported and looked after.
‘It’s also worth considering other supportive practices that could help them – flexible working or remote working policies, and the provision of counselling services can make a huge difference.’