Grief

Grief in the workplace is more common than many organizations acknowledge. Studies suggest that at any given time, 25% to 30% of employees are grieving a significant loss. Grief can impact productivity, morale, and workplace relationships, making it a critical issue for leadership to address with empathy and support.

Death of a loved one (family, friends, or colleagues)

  • Serious illness of a loved one (caregiver stress)

  • Miscarriage, stillbirth, or infertility struggles

  • Divorce or separation

Work-Related Grief

  • Death of a colleague

  • Retirement or departure of a valued leader or coworker

  • Job loss (layoffs, redundancies, or dismissals)

  • Organizational change (mergers, restructuring, leadership changes)

  • Loss of identity or purpose (role changes, demotions, career stagnation)

Collective or Societal Grief

  • Economic downturns and uncertainty

  • Global crises (pandemics, wars, climate disasters, terrorism, or social unrest)

  • Cultural or community loss (natural disasters affecting homes, violence in communities)

Anticipatory Grief

  • Knowing that a loss is coming but it hasn’t yet occurred (e.g., a terminally ill loved one, impending layoffs, organizational decline).

Disenfranchised Grief

  • Losses that are not openly acknowledged or supported (e.g., loss of a pet, breakup of a long-term partnership, estrangement from family, loss of a dream).

  • Stigma around certain types of grief (e.g., suicide, overdose, workplace bullying, identity loss).

Compounded or Cumulative Grief

  • Experiencing multiple losses in a short period, leading to emotional exhaustion (e.g., losing a loved one while also dealing with job insecurity).

Grief can manifest in different ways at work, including:

  • Reduced concentration and productivity

  • Increased absenteeism and presenteeism (being physically present but emotionally disengaged)

  • Emotional volatility (irritability, anxiety, withdrawal)

  • Decline in decision-making and problem-solving abilities

  • Physical symptoms (fatigue, insomnia, stress-related illnesses)

  • Struggles with motivation and sense of purpose

Addressing grief with empathy, flexibility, and support helps employees feel valued and fosters a culture of resilience. Leaders who recognize and normalize grief in the workplace create environments where employees can navigate loss while staying engaged and supported.

Let us help you normalize grief at work and help your people process and recover from grief’s emotional journey by providing them with our grief recovery services.