UK Helpline: 0345 123 2304 | tcf.org.uk 3 • responsibilities at work • financial necessity • fear of losing our job • the expectations of our employer • our concerns for the extra workload on our colleagues who are covering for us. On the other hand, some of us might actually wish to return to work earlier. Being in the workplace will give us a change of scenery and some company. It may help our sense of worth and add some meaning to our days. Depending on our role, our work may be an area where we feel we are taking some control over our life again. By concentrating on our work, we may gain some temporary relief from our grief. Whether we are returning to work sooner or later, whether it is entirely our choice or not, what can make a difference is preparation. Please see the information on pages 10-11 regarding legal rights for time off following bereavement. Preparing for our return as an employee “It was a long time before I made it back in to work. It was frightening to leave the security of home and face my colleagues, but it actually wasn’t as bad as I had imagined.” Before we return to the workplace, we might find it helpful to talk about our concerns and needs with our manager, or the Human Resources department if it is a larger workplace. We may want to discuss what other employees are to be told about the death of our child, and whether we would prefer for them to mention our tragedy, or to respectfully leave us be. Preparation beforehand may help. For instance, it may be possible for us to make a short visit to work, perhaps to do some less demanding job, before we make a full return. Perhaps we could work alongside a close colleague. Parttime or flexible hours could also help to ease us back into work, although this may not be a possibility for everyone.
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