Nobody wants to receive a call informing them that a loved one has passed on, but when it occurs during an important business trip that you cannot leave it is even worse. Your first instinct will simply be to leave, but what if leaving could cost you your career? Your situation would be even worse if you ended up losing your job. While bosses are usually sympathetic in cases such as this, they may need you to at least stay until a replacement can arrive, and that could be a few days. While some business trips are not as important as others, what would your company do if the current deal is worth millions and you walked out on them?
One of the ways that you can cope with the loss of a loved one during a business trip is to keep your mind on your job. You may even find your work to be a blessing because it can keep you from thinking about the friend or family member that you have lost. Although it may be difficult to focus on work, you may find it actually preferable to just sitting around and thinking about your loss.
You may find it easier to perform the duties of your position by focusing on a single task at a time and building up a type of forward momentum so to speak. You will probably find yourself coping fine if you are able to concentrate on your work, but once you stop to think about things is when problems usually begin.
It is also important to realize that leave for bereavement of a deceased relative or loved one is not required in the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other legal code, so your employer is not required to give you any time off or special treatment for this occurrence. Also, once others find out about your loss they can constantly open the wound by asking you how you are coping. For this reason it is best to keep silent for now about what has happened.
What do you do when family members need you for support? Often times the people we love are not only important to us but many others. Your family may need to speak with you about what happened and how they feel, so when you are not there for them it can be very hard on them. The best thing to do is to speak with them on the phone whenever you have a free moment. Explain your situation to them and let them know that you will be there for them as soon as you can make it. Use rationality to help them understand your situation, such as by telling them you will need money and job security more than ever. Emotions run high during events with death involved, and your family may not understand your position. This can make the situation even worse, but hopefully they will come to understand with time.
Author Resource:
Lawrence Tyrone Reaves is a Richmond corporate housing consultant at http://www.Dabneyproperties.com , a temporary corporate housing provider in the Richmond area and beyond.
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