Easing the burden in times of loss
In many workplaces today, a growing number of employees belong to the sandwich generation - people who are caring for both their children and aging parents, often while balancing demanding careers.
These employees are pulled in multiple directions, emotionally, financially and physically. When a death occurs in the family, the pressure can become overwhelming.
The reality is that loss brings with it not just grief, but also an avalanche of administrative tasks: registering the death, arranging the funeral, dealing with legal and financial matters, and notifying relevant organisations.
This so-called death admin burden can take weeks or months to resolve. For those already juggling childcare, elder care, and work responsibilities, it’s an almost impossible load to carry.
The human cost of the death admin burden
When employees are thrust into this situation, their ability to focus on work can be severely affected. Emotional distress, fatigue from caring responsibilities, and the time required to handle practical arrangements all contribute to absenteeism and presenteeism.
For the sandwich generation, this disruption can be magnified - they may still need to be there for their children’s daily needs while also managing the logistics and emotions of supporting an elderly parent through bereavement.
The result is often burnout, strained mental health, and, in some cases, long-term disengagement from work. From a business perspective, this is not just a personal challenge for the employee - it’s an organisational issue with direct impacts on productivity, wellbeing, and retention.
Where concierge services can help
This is where funeral concierge services can play a role in alleviating some of that burden. While they cannot remove the grief, they can take on the time-consuming and often confusing administrative tasks, guiding families through the process from start to finish.
For the sandwich generation, having access to such a service means:
- Clear guidance at a difficult time – removing uncertainty and decision fatigue.
- Practical help with arrangements – from comparing funeral providers to ensuring end-of-life wishes are respected.
- Support for the whole family – ensuring children, spouses, and elderly relatives feel informed and cared for.
- More time for what matters – being present with loved ones, rather than buried in paperwork.
By taking on the logistical load, these services give families the breathing space they need to grieve and recover - without the chaos of trying to do it all themselves.
The HR and benefits perspective
For HR leaders and benefits buyers, the need to support the sandwich generation is becoming a strategic priority.
This group represents a significant and growing proportion of the workforce, and their challenges have ripple effects on overall engagement and workplace culture.
Incorporating access to a funeral concierge service into benefits packages can be part of a broader approach to employee wellbeing - alongside flexible working policies, mental health support, and caregiver assistance.
It signals to employees that the organisation recognises the realities of their lives and is prepared to offer practical, meaningful help.
Ultimately, the aim is not to replace empathy with process, but to pair compassion with action- freeing employees from the administrative weight of loss so they can focus on what truly matters: caring for their families and themselves.
Supplied by REBA Associate Member, Everest Funeral Concierge
“Support you can count on when it matters most”
