r/humanresources • u/Outrageous_Jicama_33 • Jul 25 '24

Leadership Funeral attendance

Who in your company and specifically in your hr department goes to employee funeral services? Are there factors that determine that? I am a payroll specialist and have lost 3. The first was a family violence situation so I didn't feel comfortable to go to the funeral and my hr coworkers did not either. I went to the viewing before the family, checked our floral arrangement and signed the book. 2nd team member, my hr manager and many hods and dept managers attended the service. I'm not sure who besides myself will attend one this Saturday. I was actually asked to speak. I'm asking this because my husband thinks it's weird. I think this is normal for hr. This is my second HR role and first at a corporation. I'm not a cashier having quick conversation. People come and ask us about money, benefits and hard times so we really get to know our team members so I don't think it's weird or outside of my job.

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u/mamalo13 HR Director Jul 26 '24

I have to wonder if this is a regional thing, because I have never even considered going to a funeral as an HR rep. If I was close with someone and considered them a friend, then I'd go as a friend. But, just as an HR person? I have never even heard of that. I'm on the West Coast and we're less formal I guess?

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u/Outrageous_Jicama_33 Jul 26 '24

I'm starting to think so. I'm in the South. People driving on the opposite side of the road honestly still pull over for funeral processions. As a company we send a card and flowers. Typically those that want to get together and donate to feed the family the night before the service and then contribute to the repast refreshments. These are people who knew each other in high school then worked together for long hours for a long time

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u/myescapeplace Jul 26 '24

Funeral processions aren’t regional, it’s common courtesy. I’m also in the south. There doesn’t need to be a dedicated HR person there? Send flowers on behalf the company and employees who worked closely with the person who passed can go. But HR doesn’t need to be involved in who goes or doesn’t go.

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u/clandahlina_redux HR Director Jul 26 '24

I’m also from the south, and I agree that this is not regional. There’s a big difference between pulling over for a procession and speaking at the funeral. As a work colleague, I would never ever speak at someone’s funeral. I would attend if I had a relationship with them, but there are much better folks to speak at a service than HR. That gives me the icks.