Humanizing Your Bereavement Leave: A Compassionate Approach To Workplace Support
6/9/20262 min read
Four years ago, I experienced a profound loss that changed my life forever. I lost my partner and the father of my son. This tragedy came on the heels of already significant life changes, including leaving a demanding executive job to focus on homeschooling my son during the global pandemic.
As I navigated this challenging period, I found myself starting an HR consulting business just six weeks into my grief journey. Looking back, I realized I hadn't given myself adequate time to process my loss. The fog of my grief affected my interactions with clients, and I struggled to find my footing in this new reality.
The Light Amidst The Darkness
Through this experience, I learned valuable lessons about grief in the workplace and the critical importance of support systems. I was fortunate to have clients who showed compassion and understanding during this difficult time. Their empathy allowed me the flexibility to grieve, while still providing for my family.
This personal journey has inspired me to advocate for a transformation in how we approach bereavement leave and support grieving colleagues in the workplace.
Reimagining Bereavement Support: A Call to Action
As HR professionals and business leaders, we have the power to create compassionate workplaces that truly support employees during their most challenging times. Here are some actionable steps we can take to humanize our bereavement leave policies:
Extend the Leave Period: Move beyond the standard 3 - 5 days of bereavement leave. Consider offering at least two weeks - 30 days, allowing employees the time they need to begin processing their loss and adjusting to their new reality. This doesn't have to be consecutive days, but flexible in a way where time off can be taken intermittently and there is flexibility to grieve, while still supporting the business.
Provide Holistic Support:
Offer access to EAP (Employee Assistance Program) services, counseling, or therapy to help employees navigate their grief with professional guidance.
Consider providing practical support such as meal delivery services, laundry services, or house cleaning to alleviate everyday burdens during this difficult time.
Offer financial counseling or support to help employees manage any financial challenges that may arise from their loss.
Foster a Supportive Work Environment:
Encourage colleagues to check in regularly with the grieving employee, offering emotional support and understanding.
Create a culture where its okay to talk about grief and loss, reducing isolation that many grieving individuals feel.
Flexible Return-to-Work Plans:
Work with the employee to create a gradual return-to-work plan that accommodates their needs as they transition back to their role.
Be open to temporary adjustments in workload or responsibilities.
Nature and Wellness Support:
Consider providing grief care packages that includes calming herbal teas, plants, or other natural elements that can provide comfort and promote healing. Two of my favorite herbal teas that helped me tremendously during my time of grief are chamomile and skullcap.
Offer resources on grief-related wellness practices, such as meditation or gentle exercise programs.
Long-term Check-ins:
Implement a system for long-term check-ins with employees who have experienced a loss, recognizing that grief doesn't have a set timeline.
Train managers on how to have sensitive, supportive conversations about grief and ongoing support needs.
A Call For Compassionate Change
By implementing these changes, we can create workplaces that truly support employees through one of life's most challenging experiences. This approach not only helps the grieving employee but also cultivates a culture of empathy and understanding that benefits the entire organization.
As we navigate the complexities of modern workplaces, let's commit to policies that recognize the full humanity of our employees. We all face loss at some point in our lives. By transforming how we approach bereavement leave in the workplace, we're not just changing policies - we're changing lives.
