Grief in the Workplace
We handle grief differently in the workplace than we do at home. Many of us try not to cry or show emotions at work because we are under social pressure to act normally regardless of the crisis. We tend to view a show of emotions as a sign of weakness, but that is far from the truth. When a sense of loss is present in the workplace, everyone typically experiences a series of emotions that cycle through the grieving process. Those emotions are:
- shock/denial
- inward anger
- outward anger
- depression
- acceptance
Some may not experience every emotional stage, while others will linger longer in one stage than another. One person may have intense feelings and another may even deny that any loss has occurred.
It is important to understand grief in the workplace because our jobs are a large part of our daily lives. It can be difficult to maintain productive relationships with someone who is angry, anxious, and depressed, and interacting with traumatized people can make others feel traumatized as well. Each of us must make our own adjustments, and deal with our own issues.
Each of us grieves differently.
During times of crisis or upheaval, we all must grieve losses:
- the actual physical losses of co-workers
- the loss of our sense of security
- the loss of the workplace as it was
- the loss of our role in the workplace as it was
Most people have difficulty recovering from the experience of loss and the subsequent anger and anxiety by themselves. Without the help of others, many people may express their feelings of loss in inappropriate or misdirected ways. If you would like to help someone deal with their loss, try to show that you understand their pain and be positive, assertive, open, and sensitive.
How can I make the loss more bearable?
- express your emotions and talk to others
- control your response to adverse conditions:
weigh your options before acting
examine realities
pace yourself
improve your planning and organization
increase your sense of control, but try not to need too much control
ease up on yourself
learn ways to relax healthfully
recognize that you can handle a lot more than you thought you could
