Cruel Boss- how do I reply to this email.

[dottypencilcase]

One of my colleagues has gone on leave following a bereavement- their loss has completely come out of the blue.. We're working on a project together atm and there's a deadline looming where the colleague is responsible for a piece of work that's due in in a fortnight. I supervise my colleague for a few bits and pieces and oversee their eventual work. I have no idea if colleague can get their work done while on leave- I doubt it and I wouldn't be able to if I was them. I approached our Manager asking if there was the possibility of an extension on the colleagues work. Manager has just come back saying no- she doesn't care and wants the work done. Manager has been a complete bitch towards me and others in the team in the past. I want to send an email back pointing out her callousness but don't know how to word it without coming across too emotional. I won't be able to do my colleagues work since they've already carried out a lot of work on the bit of project they were involved in and I don't have the time to pick it up. Can anyone help me?

I'm not sure about the rest of the email but I would actually tell her when the project will be delivered due unexpected bereavement leave of the key member of staff

I don't know how long colleague will be off. I only spoke to them yesterday about their loss.

I think you ought to go over her head to her manager about being so callous when someone has had a bereavement. And not contact the colleague unless they specifically want them to.

If they're on leave then I'd expect them to not do any work and not be contacted about it. As this does happen (people needing unexpected leave/illness) do you not have shared files or anything so you can give a status report rather than just ask for an extension or whatever? Anyone else who can support on the work if its operationally urgent?

Dear (manager)

As you're aware the deadline for project xxxx is xxxxx

In order to meet this deadline the following actions need to be completed:

As you have confirmed that the deadline cannot be extended, could you please advise on what additional resource within the team or extended company can be utilised to achieve this objective.

With current resource I am able to achieve the following by the deadline:

Alternatively if there is no resource available, the deadline will need to be amended to xxxx

Happy to discuss if you would like to better understand the Level of Effort, milestones and impact.

Kind regards

I had a colleague who lost his daughter (young adult). Came back to work after a few weeks which is bloody amazing in my eyes, but was very obviously not his usual jolly self. Totally understandable to everyone; or so you'd think. About 6 weeks after her death, boss said to me "it's about bloody time he started getting over it now". I'll never forget it and I was absolutely dumbfounded. I left around 3 weeks later. Massive, massive cunt.
Do you have a HR department you can funnel this through?

Actually yes this is perfect!

ask your manager what he wants you to prioritise.
outline exactly what you/your team can achieve without the extra receouse of your bereaved colleague.

Something along the lines of:

"Further to our conversation yesterday, I wanted to follow up regarding Project X. Sadly [colleague] is off on leave due to their sudden and unexpected loss. They cannot be expected to work on the project while dealing with their grief, and it would be extremely inappropriate to contact them whilst they are on Bereavement leave. Unfortunately I do not have the capacity to pick up their work, so please either agree to an extension of the deadline, or advise another solution to get the work completed in their absence."

Do you have an HR department you can speak to to get advice OP?

What @FatAgainItsLettuceTime said. Sounds perfect, professional, non confrontational.