Managing Sudden Loss Page: 89
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Education and Training for Library Management
(Pergander, 2008, p. 82). In some cases, managers might need to refer
some employees to professionals to help those employees cope with the
death (Keresztes & Wegner, 2006, p. 33).
Assist staff by giving them time to attend the coworker's funeral
(Keresztes & Wegner, 2006, p. 33; Topper, 2008, p. 585). This can help
them recover and reach emotional closure, even though the mourning
process will not end with the funeral because grieving a death is often a
long and complex process that is extremely individual. Another way to
help staff achieve closure and move through the grieving process is a
memorial service at work (Keresztes & Wegner, 2006, p. 32-33). If such a
memorial service is held, invite the family and ask how they would like
memorial donations handled (Keresztes & Wegner, 2006, p. 32-33).
Memorial services can take many forms. The organization may hold a
short period of silent reflection or host a gathering where employees can
come together to share stories. Staff may want to collect donations to give
to a preferred charity of the coworker, start a scholarship or memorial
fund, or work with their institution to plant a tree or hang a plaque honor-
ing their colleague.
Acknowledge that grief may return as time goes on; periodic check-ins
are warranted since grief could surface again. There are certain times of
year when that employee would have done specific projects, or the rehiring
process may spark memories in coworkers. Intense emotions such as anger,
irritability, weariness, sadness, or guilt may appear months after the death
(Pergander, 2008, p. 82). Employees may show delayed grief in various
ways, such as lateness, withdrawal from coworkers, or difficulty focusing
(Keresztes & Wegner, 2006, p. 33). If managers see these or other symp-
toms, they should discuss options with human resources and the institu-
tion's professional assistance programs (Keresztes & Wegner, 2006, p. 33).
MANAGING THROUGH LOSS
Aside from the emotional components of mourning the sudden death of
an employee or working with staff to manage their grief, there are many
managerial and administrative components to consider. Whom should you
inform about the death? What is the technological impact of losing an
employee? What should happen to institutional property versus personal
property? What other small things might be overlooked but are still
important? Below are communication, facilities, property, technology, and
human resource considerations for managers.89
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Brannon, Sian; Yanowski, Kevin; Evans, Taylor & Leuzinger, Julie. Managing Sudden Loss, article, 2019; [Boca Raton, FL]. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1531984/m1/5/: accessed March 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .