Fortune News | Jan 28,2023
Oct 30 , 2022
By Kidist Yidnekachew
Recently, our neighbour lost his wife in a tragic accident. Besides being widowed, the sudden loss of his better half also imposed the responsibility of raising their two-year-old daughter. Seeing the little girl not letting him leave her site touched my heart. She lost her mother at a very young age, and it seems like she is afraid of losing her father too.
The family, friends and colleagues came to his house to pay their respect and comforted him to the best of their abilities. But he had to return to work a few days after the funeral. I was surprised to learn that only a few days are given to mourn your loved ones. It is not fair.
Bereavement requires time. Recovering from the pain of losing a loved one deserves at least a month. This might not be enough to get over the loss of a loved one, but to accept the fact that they are gone, a month will suffice.
Grief is more than a five-letter word. It breaks and changes people.
The feeling of emptiness, similar to having a hole in the heart, is not entirely farfetched. In forming a deeper bond with a loved one, we tend to associate our identity with them; instead of 'I', it becomes 'We'. Losing that dear, beloved person feels like they took some form of the associated identity with them. This is particularly apparent between spouses and children.
Some might argue that the prolonged break could worsen the emotional pain and that returning to work after a few days of bereavement is a good distraction from reality. This is not the case for everyone. People have different ways of dealing with grief. Some weep and express their sadness; others put on a brave face, trying to hide their suffering with a "life goes on" attitude. But they do not believe their own words.
Perhaps this might work for people who do not need to adjust to their unfamiliar duty. A prolonged mourning time could open the door to self-destructive habits. But, for people such as my neighbour, the time could be advantageous to strengthen their profound responsibility.
The little girl needs to bond with her father, slowly realising the idea that her mother is not coming back. Bonding time is essential for children at that age. Raising a child without having anyone to help is a challenge on its own; returning to work after a few mourning days as if nothing happened makes it even worse.
Understandably, employees have duties and responsibilities to carry out, but does it have to come at the expense of their well-being?
They cannot be fully functional if they return to their desks. Other coworkers can fill the void until they are emotionally ready and mentally stable. There will come a time when the dues are paid, as these incidents happen to us all. This should apply to immediate family members, or people may find loopholes to turn it into a long overdue vacation.
Bereavement leave, also known as compassionate leave, lasts from one to five days in some countries and is often supported with payment. Lawyers specialising in labour issues told me that there is no specific law that gives time off for mourners. The mourning period should be extended to allow employees to make adjustments.
PUBLISHED ON
Oct 30,2022 [ VOL
23 , NO
1174]
Fortune News | Jan 28,2023
Films Review | Apr 17,2020
Commentaries | Sep 26,2021
Viewpoints | Nov 12,2022
News Analysis | Aug 28,2021
Money Market Watch | Nov 02,2025
Editorial | Jan 12,2019
Films Review | Oct 09,2021
Viewpoints | Sep 07,2019
Fortune News | Jul 06,2025
Photo Gallery | 189877 Views | May 06,2019
Photo Gallery | 179602 Views | Apr 26,2019
Photo Gallery | 176235 Views | Oct 06,2021
My Opinion | 141936 Views | Aug 14,2021
Dec 22 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Charged with transforming colossal state-owned enterprises into modern and competitiv...
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 28 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Unhabitual, perhaps too many, Samuel Gebreyohannes, 38, used to occasionally enjoy a couple of beers at breakfast. However, he recently swit...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transporting commodities, and f...
Jun 13 , 2026
The recent policy decision to fully open freight forwarding to foreign capital may be...
Jun 6 , 2026
For a political veteran as controversial as Getachew Reda, last week's national elect...
May 30 , 2026
Tomorrow, millions of Ethiopians are expected to vote in the seventh national electio...
May 23 , 2026
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team has spent weeks in Addis Abeba conducting t...
Jun 14 , 2026 . By NAHOM AYELE
Finance Minister Ahmed Shide walked into Parliament on Thursday, June 11, 2026, with...
Ethiopian Airlines' effort to tame its largest operating pressure has taken it to Sau...
Jun 14 , 2026 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER
ASKY Airlines is trying to make the leap from regional carrier to aviation platform....
Jun 14 , 2026 . By NAHOM AYELE
The crowd arrived before the judges did, turning the quiet civil benches at the Lidet...
Loading your updates...