Question from a reader:
If a regular employee of my company dies in an accident while driving their private car on a holiday, will the company provide any support for the funeral? For example, will they send someone to help at the funeral home?

Considering Holiday Accidents and Company Support

It is a very sad event when someone dies in an
accident while driving their private car on a holiday. Especially if the person was a regular employee, the emotional scars left on their family and colleagues are immeasurable. In such situations, I would like to consider what kind of support the company might provide for the funeral from a legal perspective.

Legal Responsibilities of the Company

First, I want to establish some basic points. According to labor standards law and civil law, companies have certain obligations towards their employees. In the event of such an accident, the company may be held responsible, particularly from the perspective of the “duty of care.” Of course, if the accident occurred on a holiday, it is less likely that the company will be held directly responsible. However, the ethical responsibility of the company remains. For example, the more outstanding the employee who died in the accident, the more significant the loss the company is likely to feel. Therefore, one consideration might be financial support for the funeral or, in some cases, sending help to the funeral home. This can vary greatly depending on the company’s culture and the mindset of the management.

Examples of Corporate Responses

In reality, some companies provide generous support for employees’ funerals, while others may only offer a formal response. A friend of mine, who works for a large company, mentioned that when a colleague died in an accident on a holiday, the company partially covered the funeral expenses. Additionally, several members from the HR department attended the funeral to assist the bereaved family. I felt that such responses demonstrate the company’s attitude of “valuing people” and reflect compassion towards the remaining family members. Of course, this is just one example, and not all companies respond in the same way.

Possibilities of Support Based on Law

Now, from a legal perspective, the support a company provides for an employee’s funeral is often based on labor contracts, employment regulations, and internal customs. Particularly, if the employment regulations include a clause stating, “In the event of an employee’s misfortune, the company will partially cover funeral expenses,” the company must fulfill that obligation. Moreover, under civil law, there may be cases where the bereaved family can file for damages. For instance, if the accident was caused by the company’s negligence in its operations, the company would be obligated to pay compensation to the family. In this case, funeral expenses could also be included in the compensation, meaning that legal support may be sought.

Company Support as Emotional Support

Here, I want to consider an emotional aspect. Having support from the company during the funeral can provide some emotional comfort to the bereaved family. Not only can it alleviate financial burdens, but feeling support from those around them can help them realize they are “not alone.” I also have an experience from my student days when a friend died in an accident. At that time, the active support from my friend’s company for the funeral was a tremendous help to the bereaved family, and I still remember it. Many colleagues attended the funeral, shedding tears in memory of his character. Such scenes are also proof that the company values its employees.

Conclusion

The situation where an employee dies in an accident while driving their private car on a holiday is something everyone wishes to avoid. However, how a company responds in such unfortunate events is a crucial point when considering the duty of care and ethical responsibilities towards employees. The nature of support for funerals varies by company, but financial assistance or sending help can undoubtedly be a significant aid for the bereaved family. Whether a company has an attitude of “valuing people” ultimately connects to employee motivation and the company’s reliability. You might want to check what kind of responses your own company has by reviewing employment regulations and internal customs. This could lead to important realizations in your future life.