Grief is an unavoidable part of life, but when it infiltrates the workplace, it can significantly impact an employee’s productivity, mental health, and interpersonal relationships. For EAPs, the challenge lies in navigating the complexities of grief while fostering resilience and productivity. How can wellness practitioners effectively support employees through personal loss while maintaining professional standards?
“Grief is an unavoidable part of life”
The Workplace Impact of Grief
Grieving employees often face difficulty concentrating, emotional instability, and physical fatigue. Research by the American Hospice Foundation suggests that grief can reduce workplace productivity by up to 75% in the short term, while South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) highlights the stigma around seeking help, leaving many employees unsupported (SADAG, 2023).
“grief can reduce workplace productivity by up to 75% in the short term“
EAP Strategies for Supporting Grieving Employees
EAPs serve as a critical lifeline in helping employees process their grief while maintaining a sense of stability. Below are some strategies for wellness practitioners:
- Recognise the Signs of Grief
Look for symptoms such as mood swings, withdrawal from colleagues, and a decline in performance. Managers trained to identify these signs can refer employees to EAP services early.
2. Provide Tailored Counselling Services
Personalised grief counselling, either in person or virtually, helps employees navigate their loss in a private and supportive environment. Incorporating cultural sensitivity is particularly important in South Africa, where diverse mourning practices exist (De Villiers & Van den Berg, 2020).
3. Foster an Inclusive Workplace Culture
Normalise conversations about grief and loss through workshops and employee awareness campaigns.
4. Offer Practical Flexibility
Implement policies like flexible working hours, bereavement leave, or reduced workloads to accommodate grieving employees.
5. Create Peer Support Networks
Establish peer-led groups where employees can share experiences and coping strategies. Research by Forbes (2022) found that peer networks significantly boost emotional resilience.
“Incorporating cultural sensitivity is particularly important in South Africa, where diverse mourning practices exist“
International and Local Insights
Globally, companies like Google have set benchmarks with extended bereavement leave policies. Locally, organisations in South Africa are increasingly turning to EAPs to address emotional health holistically. Studies by The South African Labour Guide recommend a proactive approach, integrating grief management into workplace wellness programmes (Labour Guide, 2023).
“organisations in South Africa are increasingly turning to EAPs to address emotional health holistically“
Call to Action
Grief is a journey, not a destination. As wellness practitioners, your role is to ensure employees don’t walk that path alone. Start by assessing your EAP’s capacity for grief support and implement these strategies to build a more compassionate workplace. A well-supported employee is not only resilient but also more likely to thrive through personal and professional challenges.
“Grief is a journey, not a destination“
References
- American Hospice Foundation (2019). The Grieving Employee: Coping with Loss at Work.
- SADAG (2023). Mental Health and Stigma in South African Workplaces.
- De Villiers, D. & Van den Berg, J. (2020). Cultural Sensitivity in South African Workplace EAPs.
- Forbes (2022). The Role of Peer Support in Grief Recovery.
- Labour Guide (2023). Employee Wellness Policies and Grief Management.