Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to:
- Describe common effects of grief on work.
- Recognize that grief has no set timeline.
- Understand that many kinds of loss bring grief.
- Approach grieving coworkers without judgment.
Lesson
Grief at the desk and on the floor
Grieving people may find it hard to concentrate, remember details, make decisions, or keep up their usual pace. They may be tired, tearful, short-tempered, or unusually quiet. Some throw themselves into work as a welcome distraction.
No set timeline
Grief does not end when bereavement leave does. Waves of grief can come months or years later, often around anniversaries, holidays, or reminders. A coworker who seemed fine may struggle again later.
Many kinds of loss
People grieve deaths of parents, partners, children, friends, coworkers, and pets. They also grieve pregnancy loss, divorce, a loved one's serious illness, and other losses that workplaces may not recognize.
GGN practiceRemembering my own return (about 10 minutes)
Recall a time you, or someone close to you, returned to work or school after a loss. Write down one thing that helped and one thing that hurt. Keep these in mind through this program. If this brings up pain, pause and reach out to someone you trust, or call or text 988.
Fictional storyFictional Story 1.1: Back on Monday
Kwame returned to work a week after his father died. His team said nothing about it, wanting to give him space. Kwame felt as though his loss was invisible.
Questions to consider:
- Why might the team have stayed silent?
- What could they have done?
Discussion: The team likely feared saying the wrong thing. A simple "I was so sorry to hear about your father" would have acknowledged his loss and let him know he was not alone.
Reflection Prompts
- How has your workplace responded to grief in the past?
- Which effects of grief on work have you seen?
- Which losses might go unrecognized at your workplace?