Will a company reach out to a designated named benificiary upon an employees death? What if the phone number isn’t valid

Question

At Granite construction if an employee of theirs dies unexpectedly, will they try to contact a named designated beneficiary they have on file and if the contact information for the beneficiary isn’t current, how do they go about locating them if they do do that?

James L. Arrasmith · Answer

In the event of an employee's unexpected death, companies like Granite Construction generally have protocols to reach out to the designated beneficiary listed by the employee. This process is a part of the company's responsibility to ensure that any benefits or entitlements, such as life insurance or death benefits, are communicated and transferred to the rightful recipients. 
 
If the contact information for the beneficiary is not current or the phone number provided is invalid, the company may take additional steps to locate them. This could include using alternative contact details on file, such as email addresses or mailing addresses. In some cases, they may also seek assistance from legal professionals or use public records and social media in their efforts to find the designated beneficiary. 
 
Under California law, there is an expectation for companies to act in good faith to fulfill their obligations towards employees and their beneficiaries. If direct contact methods fail, the company may also reach out to next of kin, use last known contacts, or employ other reasonable methods to ensure that beneficiaries are informed about their entitlements.

Q: Will a company reach out to a designated named benificiary upon an employees death? What if the phone number isn’t valid