How Business Owners Can Support Grieving Employees

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As everyone knows (or at least should realise by now), grief doesn’t follow a schedule. It can strike anyone, anytime, and it doesn’t care about deadlines, meetings, or targets. When employees are grieving, their focus and energy understandably take a hit. 

For business owners, figuring out how to support them during such a tough time can feel a little intimidating. You’re trying to do what you can to polish up your brand and build up your online presence, but at the same time, you’re trying to figure out what’s the right thing to do to help (or at least a good employer would).

But here’s the thing: how a business responds to an employee’s grief says a lot about its culture. Offering real, thoughtful support during these moments shows employees they matter, both as professionals and as people. And that kind of care? Well, it leaves a lasting impression.

Flexibility Goes a Long Way
As you might have guessed, grief hits everyone differently. Some might want to throw themselves into work as a distraction, while others need space to process and heal. But overall, flexibility is key to making employees feel supported without adding more stress.

Now, this is obvious, but offering bereavement leave is a good start, but consider going further. For example, adjusted hours, remote working options, or extra time off can all make a big difference. The most important thing? Well, no pressure, of course. Employees should feel like they can take the time they need without guilt or worrying about falling behind.

Practical Support Can Make a Big Difference
Grief often brings a mountain of logistics, there’s the funeral planning, legal paperwork, and family obligations. Basically, you’re hit with a wave of so much stuff. Now, it’s not just moral support, but offering practical support that can lighten that load.

Sometimes, it’s as simple as pointing someone toward helpful resources. For example, this can be something like sharing links to counselling services, local support groups, or even tools for funeral arrangements can be incredibly valuable. For example, employees can visit www.familyfuneralservices.com.au since this provides them with practical help during a difficult time (and funeral services if they’re struggling for the right funeral home). 

But overall, thoughtful gestures like this show you’re willing to go beyond words to offer real support.

Keep Communication Open
One of the hardest parts of grief is balancing personal pain with professional responsibilities. Employees often worry about how their situation might impact their team or the business, which adds an unnecessary layer of stress. This is where open and supportive communication comes in. It’s pretty simple, right?

So, just ask your employees how they’d like to be supported during this time. You can’t make the assumption, you need to ask. Would they prefer privacy, or are they okay with colleagues knowing what’s going on? Yeah, you need to ask.

Additional Training On Supporting Grieving Employees
For those who are looking to better help their grieving employees can benefit greatly from taking extra courses. Many chaplain organizations that offer training specialize in equipping people with skills needed to provide practical and emotional assistance during difficult times. Their courses often focus on active listening, working through workplace dynamics with empathy, long-term impacts of grief as well as creating compassionate environments within organizations with meaningful support networks. When you are investing in this type of training, managers can help form a compassionate environment while learning strategies on creating meaningful support systems inside organizations.

Remember, Grief Doesn’t Have a Timeline
Really, this one just can’t be stressed enough, but grief doesn’t magically disappear after the funeral or once someone comes back to work. It can resurface months - or even years - later, often unexpectedly. Being patient and recognising this ongoing process is vital.

Employees might seem fine one day and then feel overwhelmed the next. But small acts, like acknowledging significant anniversaries or casually checking in, can mean a lot to someone who’s still navigating their grief.