Nearly half (48%) of bereaved employees would leave their job if they felt the support received was inadequate, according to research by bereavement technology firm Empathy.
Its The cost of loss: the UK’s bereavement burden report revealed that this figure rises among respondents from younger generations, to 57% of millennials and 74% of Gen Z.
A total of 92% place high value on bereavement-related employee benefits, and 23% said this would influence their decision when considering a potential employer. Every single Gen Z respondent (100%) placed high value on bereavement-related employee benefits.
When asked which benefits are most valuable when considering an employer, 23% said bereavement support. This was above parental leave (17%), an employee assistance programme and counselling services (11%), and a gym membership and fitness benefits (5%).
In the year after a bereavement, 30% said they regularly struggled to concentrate at work, and 27% were less productive. Millennials were most affected, with 37% regularly struggling to concentrate, 35% reporting lower productivity, and 16% frequently missing work in the months after losing a loved one.
Clare Dodd, UK general manager at Empathy, said: “Workplace wellbeing has evolved, and it’s now evident that standard policies alone are not enough. Organisations have a clear opportunity to step in with bereavement support that is both practical and genuinely human-centred. We’re committed to helping employers close the growing gap between what people need and what they currently receive. Our goal is to raise the standard of bereavement care at scale, ensuring every employee feels guided, supported, and able to navigate one of life’s most challenging moments.”
Ron Gura, co-founder and chief executive officer of Empathy, added: “By partnering with employers and institutions, we aim to raise the standard of bereavement care and ensure people have the guidance they need to navigate one of life’s most complex moments.”
