COMPA S S ION THE BU SI NESS
A LITTLE Everyone has lost loved ones at some point, but it’s never been more important for salon and barbershop owners to have suitable bereavement policies in place – and know how to support grieving employees. WORDS GEORGINA FULLER
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he past 18 months or so have been difficult due to Covid-19, with hundreds of thousands of people having been affected by bereavement. Under UK law, anyone who is classed as an employee has the right to a ‘reasonable’ amount of time off if a dependant such as a partner, parent or child dies, or if they have a stillborn baby. Additionally, in January 2020, ‘Jack’s Law’ came into force. This entitles eligible working parents who lose a child under the age of 18, or who suffer a stillbirth from 24 weeks of pregnancy, to
two weeks’ paid leave. Many businesses have also introduced a miscarriage policy. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) says: ‘It’s a good idea to have a policy that covers time off and pay for bereavement. A policy helps make clear what staff are entitled to, and how managers can respond and support staff.
‘Even if there is a policy, employers should make allowances. For example, a recently bereaved person may not be in the right frame of mind to read it straight away.’ So, what are the dos and don’ts when it comes to managing bereavement in the workplace?
" MAKE SURE STAFF KNOW THAT YOU ARE THERE FOR THEM AND THEY CAN TALK TO YOU ANYTIME SALONFOCUS | A UTUM N 2 0 2 1
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