Support for Communicating About the Death of an Employee

Georgia Tech has introduced new guidelines for communicating about the death of an employee, designed to ensure timely, respectful, and coordinated communications to campus constituents. 

These guidelines provide a streamlined approach for sharing sensitive information, ensuring that those most affected by the loss of a faculty or staff member are notified promptly, treated with compassion, and connected to resources to help them navigate this difficult time. 

Contained within the guidelines are email templates that can be tailored to the situation and audience. Links to helpful resources, including the Employee Assistant Program and mental health support services, are also included in the guidelines and email templates.  

A need for consistent and compassionate communication was identified through the Cultivate Well-Being Roadmap with a Focus on Faculty and Staff. A working group of communications, human resources, psychology, and mental health professionals contributed to the guidelines, looking to peer institutions for benchmarking and consulting with people on campus who have experienced the death of a colleague. 

View the guidelines and resources at hr.gatech.edu/employee-death.