Grief in the Workplace

Each Year, about 8 million people are touched by the death of a friend or loved one.  About half of those people will be in the workplace during their grieving period.  Because grief can affect a worker’s performance, business leaders have become increasingly aware of the personal and financial costs of grief in the workplace.

But grieving employees, affected coworkers, and managers can be taught how to deal effectively with their grief and the grief of others.  Because so many Americans look to their jobs for a sense of community and family, the workplace can play a significant role in helping employees work through the grieving process.

Hospice of Holland offers a Grief in the Workplace program, which can assist employees, supervisors, and managers in understanding grief, effectively communicating information to staff, and positively coping and maintaining job performance. Grief in the Workplace offers workshops, support groups, crisis intervention, seminars and resources to assist both managers and employees in understanding and processing the many faces of grief.

Workshops offered:

Workshops are small groups that foster personal interaction, support and education on the subjexts that follow.

Supporting a Seriously Ill Coworker:
When a coworker becomes ill, employees around that person can play a big role in assisting that person.  People may find themselves uncomfortable with the situation, or unsure of what to say, or may avoid the ill person all together.  This workshop offers practical ways to support a seriously ill coworker.  It will help those around the person to understand the realities faced by individuals with serious illness.

Coping with the Death of a Coworker:
Not only does illness affect the workplace, but death does as well.  Employees must continue on with work when a coworker dies.  The death may be even more traumatic if it is work related.  This workshop explores how grief will affect the workplace, common experiences and feelings related with loss, and ways to memorialize the loss.

When a Coworker Suffers a Loss:
When a coworker is grieving a loss at work, others may feel uncomfortable, not know what to say, or even say things that seem hurtful.  This workshop will explain what to expect in your coworker’s behaviors, what you can do to help your coworker and what to avoid when supporting your coworker. 

The Effects of Advanced Illness and Grief in the Workplace: A Guide for Managers:
When an employee is struggling with a life-threatening illness, a manager’s involvement and support are essential, and will set a tone for the workplace.  This workshop will explain the effects of grief on an employee and how to manage grief issues in the workplace.  It will teach managers how to respond to the death of an employee as well as how serious illness with an employee effects the workplace.

Understanding Grief:
Whenever one experiences a loss, one experiences grief.  A loss can result from a death, an illness, or a divorce—anything that significantly changes or ends a relationship.  Other losses may be more subtle.  Downsizing, work-related transitions, even slight changes in the workplace culture can create a sense of loss, which brings about feelings of grief.  This workshop explores the common experiences associated with grief and loss as well as factors that influence grief.  The common myths of grief and mourning will be explored and also the four central tasks of grieving.

Support Groups:
The Hospice of Holland staff will also come to the workplace and facilitate support groups.  Participating in groups is a great way to lift each other up and share with people experiencing a similar grief journey.

Individual Counseling:

Crisis Intervention:

Other Resourses: