The pain of grief is literally exhausting. If mourners are to reintegrate their loss into a new and stronger reality, they need to be treated with sensitivity and caring while finding their new place in this fragile life. How well employees support each other and how effectively they receive support from their superiors will affect working relationships and ability to perform job functions. Employers who consider only the loss of productivity might want to think about the alternative cost of replacing an otherwise loyal and well-trained employee who does not feel supported. Everyone responds differently in grief.
Intense emotions are often obvious.
Most bereaved people find it helpful to have compassionate, non-judgmental listeners when they feel like talking. It is best for listeners not to offer advice or criticize feelings. When possible, employer-provided professional grief counseling to assist employees who are working through their pain also can help to bring peace back to the workplace. A counselor who specializes in bereavement can help with employee grief as well as assisting staff with helpful suggestions. It can be important for the peripheral staff to also have a person to talk to about their feelings.