As a Well-Being Coach with 20 years of HR experience, I have worked with many people that have experienced the profound loss of a loved one.

I have worked for both large and small companies, organizations with a healthy company culture, and even a couple with horrible morale and high turnover.

Something that has been consistent across every company I have worked for is that the topic of death and grief remains largely a taboo subject in the workplace.

Yet almost every one of us will lose a loved one at some point during our career.

So why is that? If grief and the loss are so prevalent, we aren’t any of us talking about it?

One possible explanation is that our country in general, lacks any sort of consistent ritual around death.

Many of our rituals around death and how we grieve has diminished over time and generations.

Our society doesn’t teach us how to normalize the very human experience that is both living and dying. We get so caught up in everything that comes in between birth and death.

This way of living leaves many of us feeling even more isolated and lonely in our grief when we do experience it.

Avoiding conversations in the workplace around loss does a disservice to both the individuals and organizations.

Suppressing emotion can lead to decreased productivity, increased stress levels and a lack of psychological safety among team members.

As a Coach, I advocate for shifts in workplace culture – ones that embrace empathy, open communication and support for individuals experiencing grief.

Employees should feel feel empowered to step away in times of loss, and feel supported by the organization in doing so.

Here are some strategies to help you foster a more compassionate work environment during times of loss for either yourself or fellow team members:

1) Normalize conversations about grief: Encourage open dialogue in the workplace around loss and grief, creating a safe space for employees to share their experiences without judgement and stigma.

2) Provide resources and support: Offer access to EAP services, 1:1 coaching, support groups, etc. to help navigate each person’s own grief journey. Encourage open dialogue that promotes psychological safety amongst teams.

3) Flexibility and accommodation: Recognize that everyone grieves differently and may require different accommodations during this difficult time.

4) Promote self-care and lead by example: Encourage your employees to to prioritize self-care such as exercise, mindfulness activities, etc.

By acknowledging and addressing grief in the workplace, we not only support the individuals directly affected, but also cultivate a culture of compassion and understanding.

Let’s work together to break the silence surrounding grief to create work environments where everyone feels seen, heard and supported on their healing journey.

Let’s work together!

I help organizations and individuals build resilience in and out of the workplace!

Find out more here: www.alisonlifecoach.com

Services: 1:1 Coaching, Well-Being Workshops, Speaking