Grief is an unfortunate part of life and our reaction to loss varies from person to person. If one of your team members is experiencing the loss of a loved one, it can be difficult to know how to help handle the situation from a business perspective. You want to be supportive in the best way possible so they can return to some sense of normalcy in due time. Keep reading for some helpful tips to handle workplace grief from the team at Prescott HR.
Why grieving at work is challenging
If one of your team members just suffered a loss, continuing with or returning to work can present an array of challenges. One reason is that grief itself can feel like a full-time job. Dealing with a loss can take up all of the mental and emotional capacity that a team member has. They may also be preoccupied with dealing with all the logistics that come with a loss, including funeral arrangements and managing estates. All of these emotions and responsibilities can feel overwhelming, and it may take some time for your employee to juggle those tasks with their work role. At the same time, returning to work can be a welcome distraction to a person who has just experienced a loss. That’s why it’s always best to keep an open door policy with your team members, so they can communicate the support they need to do the best job possible in tough circumstances.
How to best support a grieving employee
Now that you have a better understanding of how complicated grief in the workplace can be, here are our recommendations to best support your employee who is dealing with a loss.
Be there for them
Providing authentic support for your grieving employee is the most important priority. As we mentioned above, every person grieves in their own way, so it’s important to communicate with your employee to find out what they need. That could mean extended time off, or privacy as they deal with a complicated family matter.
Understand their priorities are now different
Under normal circumstances, your employees should make their work the priority when they come into the office. However, if one of your team members just experienced a loss, it’s going to be hard to make their role the priority. As a business owner or manager, it’s important to let your team member know they are supported. That means understanding that the employee is going to need some time to adjust to their new normal, without the pressures of the job bearing down on them.
Work with Prescott HR
Does your organization need help with managing grief in the workplace? We are here to help! Prescott HR offers a wide range of services that can help your organization evaluate your current policies and incorporate new ones, as needed. Our unintimated HR practices allow us to be focused and effective, providing your business with precisely what you need. Give us a call today at 443-351-8818 or contact us online.