When the father of optometrist Farah Awan MCOptom unexpectedly passed away two years ago, the practice she was working at regularly was hugely supportive. “Within an hour of contacting them, they arranged cover, offered me four weeks off and made sure that my clinic slots would be available for me when I was able to return to work.

“It was a small practice and I was given a lot of care. It was nice to know that I’d be welcomed back, which made a big difference.”

Sadly, that’s not always the case. A report by the charity Marie Curie found a “severely uneven playing field”: “Many employees who have been bereaved are left without any entitlement to time off or the emotional and financial support they need. This can result in them returning to work before they’re ready – something that can be very damaging for their wellbeing and mental health” (Marie Curie, 2021).