Loss in the Workplace

Helpful Information About the Grief Process

By Jenn Flaum, MBA, LCSW

How we process change, transition, cope and grief is unique to each person. No two people respond to loss in the same way and there is not a time table for healing. Relationships in the workplace are unique, to some the relationship to the person who has died was a working relationship, to others a deep friendship. When there is a loss in the workplace we are impacted individually, as a team, depending on our role and as an organization, providing us with opportunities to be supported and support one another.

If You Have Lost a Colleague

Attend the funeral
Create a memorial at home or in your workspace. (Light a candle on your desk, lead a fundraiser, plant a tree, display a picture of your colleague or one of their interests)
Find a support person at work you can express your feelings too and talk about the person you lost
Recognize “grief bursts” will happen and have a plan for when they occur at work
You may have trouble concentrating and remembering information. Ask co-workers to write down, email or text important information
Do not assume everyone is impacted and if people are not expressing themselves they don’t care. We all had a unique relationship and grieve differently

Supporting a Colleague:

Make contact and check in. Do not assume your coworkers will reach out to you
Listen with your heart. Take the time, cancel the meeting or be late to the appointment if someone needs to talk
Avoid clichés
Don’t be judgmental
See the person as a person, not a task that needs to be accomplished

For Supervisors:

Seek outside support. You, too, have lost a colleague and just because you are in a leadership role does not mean you can, or should, be the source of support for your team
Adapt employee scheduling to allow time to honor the person who has died. Make it possible for employees to attend the memorial or funeral
Create an environment that supports taking space, when needed. (Extended talks, short walks, emotions in the workplace, etc)
If possible do not assign new tasks within two weeks of the loss. When new tasks need to be assigned, be mindful of who you are assigning them too

For Organizations:

Remember people are your most important asset and while tasks can be reassigned, how we treat each other and honor those no longer with us creates a feeling of value within the organization, despite having jobs to complete
Ensure policies are in line with supporting employees (Time off, employee assistance programs, insurance benefits for individual counseling, scheduling, etc.)
Create space for a permanent memorial (Brick, bench, tree, memory wall or book etc)

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