Disturbing details of Wells Fargo employee's death at her desk sends shockwaves through nation's offices. What happens if you die on the job?

Her death went unnoticed for days until a colleague discovered her body slumped over her desk in a cubicle away from the main aisle.

“It's really heartbreaking,” a Wells Fargo worker told 12News. “I'm thinking: 'What if I were just sitting there? No one would check on me?’”

Another employee who exclusively spoke to 12News anonymously explained that most employees in the Tempe office work remotely, but the building has 24/7 security. That employee suggested someone should have found Prudhomme sooner.

“That's the scary part. That's the uneasy part,” the employee said. “It's negligence in some part.”

The Tempe Police Criminal Investigation Bureau is now investigating, with the full cooperation of Wells Fargo, but does not suspect foul play, and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner is working to determine the cause of death.

What happens if you die on the job?

The circumstances of Prudhomme’s sad demise may get you thinking: what happens if I die on the job? Here’s what you need to know:

If you die at work — for instance, from a fatal slip, trip or fall, or deadly contact with workplace objects, equipment or substances — your dependents, like your spouse or your children, may be eligible to receive survivor’s benefits.

The primary mechanism most employers use to provide these benefits is workers’ compensation insurance. Your family may also be able to claim reimbursement for funeral and burial costs, up to a maximum amount provided by state law.

However, if you die of natural causes like a heart attack or a stroke in the workplace, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance will typically not pay out death benefits unless it’s proven that the working conditions or job stress directly contributed to your death. Prudhomme’s cause of death was still under investigation at the time of writing, so it is unclear whether insurance will pay out in this case.

If your death is down to employer negligence, your dependents may be able to sue for wrongful death. In cases where work conditions might have exacerbated a pre-existing condition, there could be room for legal claims, but it’s generally difficult to prove.

What happens to your 401(k) and other benefits

If you die on the job, any funds you’ve saved for retirement in a 401(k) account will pass on to the beneficiaries you named when setting up your account.

If anything changes in your life — for example, you get married, divorced or have a child — be sure to review your beneficiaries and bring them up to date, so the right people inherit your money.