Grief can be complicated to navigate when you have responsibilities at the workplace.

Losing a loved one changes everything.

Whether your child, parent, or spouse passed away, the grief is overwhelming.

While your world has come crashing down, others remain unaffected.

This is especially true with co-workers and employers.

They may expect all to be back to baseline within a few days.

Despite these external expectations, grief has no timeline.

It can come in waves and hit hard.

Workplace expectations often do not account for the emotional burden of grief.

Although many employees offer limited bereavement leave, they generally expect productivity to continue as it did before the death.

While many employees can "wear masks" at work and hide how they feel, they often struggle to concentrate or efficiently tackle tasks.

If there is any tension with co-workers, this can be exacerbated by the limited emotional bandwidth.

Symptoms of grief can make returning to work challenging.

How Grief Shows Up in the Workplace

When people think of grief, they often picture sadness.

This is an incomplete perspective.

Grief can include emotional numbness, forgetfulness, irritability, insomnia, and exhaustion.

Physical symptoms can also include stomachaches and headaches.

Although these may seem strange to some, all these reactions and symptoms are normal grief responses.

These symptoms can be uncharitably interpreted in the workplace as poor performance or disengagement.

Employers and co-workers can intentionally or unintentionally encourage bereaved individuals to get over their loss quickly.

Many people in the workplace may be uncomfortable acknowledging loss.

Even comments intended to provide comfort can leave one feeling more disconnected and hurt.

After returning to work, many who are grieving hide their feelings to prevent being seen as distracted or weak.

Despite their efforts, stuffing feelings provides only momentary benefits.

Workplace cultures can either support grieving employees or leave them feeling more alone.

When the work environment acknowledges the reality of loss and offers some flexibility, employees can remain connected to their work while more successfully coping with their losses.

In contrast, lacking support can lead mourners to absenteeism, burnout, or job loss.

Legal and Practical Support During Grieving

When a spouse or parent has died, the legal responsibilities of the surviving spouse or adult child can be significant.

In the midst of grief, they must review financial accounts, settle the estate, and manage inherited property.

All of these tasks require mental and emotional energy.

Processing the loss can be exacerbated by navigating the probate court system.

By working with an experienced probate attorney, those who are grieving can receive support for the logistics of managing deadlines, filing documents, and communicating with creditors.

Because the responsibilities of estate settlement are extensive, working with an attorney can provide more space for grieving and full-time employment.

In addition to mourning the loss of a loved one, some may also face financial loss as a result of the death.

Insurance benefits, dual income, or access to retirement accounts can all disappear.

Proactive estate planning and understanding legal obligations and rights can minimize financial hardships.

Balancing Work, Grief, and Responsibility

Returning to the workplace does not mean your grief will be gone.

Instead, it means you are taking the next step forward.

If you are an employer who has a bereaved employee, offer compassion and understand that grief is not linear.

By acknowledging these realities, you can better support your employees.

Grieving employees can reorient to work by taking breaks and asking for help when needed.

Support groups, therapists, and legal professionals can help navigate the emotions and obligations related to the loss.

A strong foundation of family, friends, and professionals is essential to working through grief.

If you are grieving and settling an estate, asking for help is okay.

What are Key Takeaways about Grief?

Grief's physical and emotional symptoms will likely impact productivity, energy, and focus.

Having a supportive workplace can help you navigate employment amid loss.

Because the death of a loved one often involves legal responsibilities associated with estate settlement, it can be helpful to seek the support of professionals.

Although grief can feel isolating, you do not have to face the challenges alone.

This post is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. You should contact an attorney for advice concerning any particular issue or problem. Nothing herein creates an attorney-client relationship between Harvest Law KC and the reader.

Reference: The Unleashed Heart "The Impact of Grief on Productivity in the Workplace"