{"id":1530,"date":"2024-12-15T23:17:32","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T05:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/?page_id=1530"},"modified":"2026-04-02T14:07:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T19:07:31","slug":"death-of-an-employee-procedure","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/policies\/death-of-an-employee-procedure\/","title":{"rendered":"Death of an Employee Procedure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"uwm-l-row\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-row\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading default\" id=\"h-1-reporting-a-death\">1. Reporting a Death<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-on-campus-death\"><strong>On Campus Death<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In case of an on campus death, call <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/police\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">University Police<\/a> first as an emergency, by calling (414) 229-9911.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An \u201con campus death\u201d refers to anyone dying on any UWM property. The University Police will notify the Vice Chancellors for Marketing &amp; Communications and Finance and Administrative Affairs and will e-mail all contacts on the Non-Student Passing list. The Vice Chancellors will notify the Chancellor and Provost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-off-campus-death\"><strong>Off Campus Death<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A campus member may hear of an off campus death through a variety of sources: friend, family, a student, the news, an obituary, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The campus member should contact the deceased person\u2019s department supervisor\/chair (or designee) or the School\/College\/Division office to relay the information. These two offices are responsible for notifying each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-work-related-death\"><strong>Work-related Death<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the cause of death may be work-related, any witness to the death should call <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/safety-and-assurances\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University Safety &amp; Assurances<\/a> immediately at (414) 229-6339 for reporting and investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading default\" id=\"h-2-the-first-24-hours-after-a-death-is-reported\">2. The First 24 Hours After a Death is Reported<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-school-college-division-office\"><strong>School\/College\/Division Office<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Appoint a coordinator (from the employee\u2019s department). When an employee works in more than one department, the Division\/School\/College should decide which department is responsible for coordination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assist the coordinator as needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Notify <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/uits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UITS<\/a>\/other IT upon verification from the Department Coordinator.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-department-coordinator\"><strong>Department Coordinator<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Determine the validity of the report and begin the death protocol.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Print out the Death of an Employee Coordinator\u2019s Checklist and use it to keep track of assignments to others and activities completed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/benefits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Central HR Benefits<\/a> for a benefits contact name and telephone number for the family.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/payroll\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Central HR Payroll<\/a> to coordinate final paycheck and\/or leave payout.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facilitate communication between survivors and campus services such as Central HR Benefits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact the staff members within the department and other students or staff most directly impacted to make them aware of the death.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Central HR<\/a> (when needed) for Employee Assistance Program consultation in addressing the needs of staff, faculty, students and the family affected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact the <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/deanofstudents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dean of Students<\/a> office and the <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/wellness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Student Health and Wellness Center<\/a> if the employee is a student.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading default\" id=\"h-3-24-to-48-hours-after-a-death-is-reported\">3. 24 to 48 Hours After a Death is Reported<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-school-college-division-office-0\"><strong>School\/College\/Division Office<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Initiate condolence communication to the family.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identify campus representative (i.e. representative of the Dean or Division Head) to attend on\/off campus events.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work with the Department Coordinator and Marketing &amp; Communications regarding the release of information and the development of an announcement to campus.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-department-coordinator-0\"><strong>Department Coordinator<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Work with the School\/College\/Division Office and Marketing &amp; Communications regarding the release of information and the development of an announcement to campus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assess the need for memorial events.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collect information about on and off campus events.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Determine arrangements and ensures notifications\/invitations for attendance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading default\" id=\"h-4-48-hours-after-a-death-is-reported\">4. 48 Hours After a Death is Reported<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-chancellor-s-office\"><strong>Chancellor\u2019s Office<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Send a condolence card to the family of the deceased from the Chancellor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-school-college-division-office-1\"><strong>School\/College\/Division Office<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Send a condolence card to the family of the deceased from the Dean\/Division Head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-department-coordinator-1\"><strong>Department Coordinator<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ensure that the <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/client-group-assignments\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Human Resources Business Partner<\/a> for the School\/College\/Division completes an HRS Job Change form for the employee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Arrange to have personal possessions inventoried and delivered to the estate representative.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Arrange to have UWM possessions inventoried and retrieved from the estate. Use particular discretion as to the appropriate timing of this task. Contact <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/safety-and-assurances\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University Safety &amp; Assurances<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/legal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Office of Legal Affairs<\/a> if any issues arise.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col uwm-l-col--4 uwm-l-offset--1\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading default\" id=\"h-related-documents\">Related Documents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/panthers.sharepoint.com\/:b:\/s\/HR-Web\/EaXx8KiehbdEtN0hMTH25SQBL1LhaGx_h5DHO0-YPN_xFA?e=vZ4Z2G\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Death of an Employee Coordinator\u2019s Checklist<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading default\" id=\"h-contact-information\">Contact Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For questions about this procedure please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/safety-and-assurances\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University Safety &amp; Assurances<\/a> at (414) 229-6339<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3280,"featured_media":0,"parent":66,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"class_list":["post-1530","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3280"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1530"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1530\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1902,"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1530\/revisions\/1902"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}