İşletmelerde Yas Sürecindeki Çalışanlara Yönelik Destek Politikalarının İncelenmesi[Examining Support Policies for Bereaved Employees in Organizations]

Although human life is primarily oriented toward living, death is also a natural part of the life cycle. Losing a loved and valued person during periods of stability disrupts an individual’s sense of permanence and also affects working life. The support of both the social environment and the workplace play a crucial role in navigating this process in a healthy way. This study aims to explore organizational policies and support mechanisms for employees experiencing bereavement. Furthermore, it seeks to identify current policies, procedures, and practices, thereby contributing to the dissemination of supportive measures for grieving employees and the enhancement of employee well-being. Designed within a qualitative and phenomenological framework, the study employed semi-structured interviews with human resources managers. The data obtained was subjected to content analysis and organized into 37 codes under 5 themes. Participants highlighted problems related to the duration and implementation of bereavement leave and emphasized efforts to convey the message of “we are here for you” through continuous communication with grieving employees. Extending leave, reducing workload, and providing financial support (both in-kind and monetary) were identified as key support mechanisms. In addition, the need for legal regulations regarding leave, the misinterpretation of institutionalization, and the necessity of bereavement-specific training were underlined. As a result of the study, a conceptual model incorporating all the themes was developed.