Many of us are navigating heavy emotional terrain right now. Mental health challenges are rising not just because of personal hardship, but because we’re living through a time of deep uncertainty, political instability, and growing authoritarianism. That kind of chronic stress—combined with grief, fear, and moral distress—doesn’t stay outside the workplace. It walks in with us every day.

That’s why it matters that we talk about it. By naming what’s real, we help remove the stigma. By offering acknowledgment instead of avoidance, we help our teams feel seen. And by showing up as human beings first, we remind others it’s safe to do the same.

This guide is a small tool—but I hope it helps you hold a big truth: that care, conversation, and connection are essential leadership practices for creating spaces of belonging.

Thanks for leading with heart.

In solidarity + gratitude,

grief in the workplace

what it is

Grief is the natural response to loss—but in many workplaces, it remains invisible or unspoken. We tend to think of grief only as something tied to death, but it can also arise from change, instability, identity loss, or collective trauma. Right now, many people are carrying layers of grief—personal, professional, political—that don’t disappear when the workday begins.

why it’s important

We are in a moment of deep uncertainty. The erosion of democratic norms, widespread institutional collapse, layoffs, forced resignations, and authoritarian threats are creating chronic instability. Many of us are grieving the loss of what we thought was secure—our roles, our communities, our ability to plan for the future. Some are mourning the loss of identity after being let go. Others are experiencing the quiet ache of staying behind—navigating survivor’s guilt, disconnection, and the absence of trusted colleagues.

Grief impacts our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. It affects how we think, relate, and lead. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away—it just isolates us further. When we name grief, we reduce stigma, increase compassion, and open space for healing.

sample talking points for leaders to use with staff

The talking points below are a starting point. Feel free to use what resonates and leave the rest and rework them to make them your own.

🗣️ Grief isn’t something we’re taught to talk about at work—but we should be. When we don’t acknowledge it, people are left to carry it in silence. Naming grief doesn’t make us less professional—it makes us more human. And humanity should never be off-limits in the workplace.

🗣️ Grief isn’t just about losing a loved one. It can come from any loss—of stability, of identity, of connection, of purpose. Right now, many of us are carrying grief from layoffs, team changes, moral injury, and the larger disintegration of the systems we thought we could count on.

🗣️ If you’re feeling a heaviness you can’t quite explain, or a quiet ache you don’t have words for—you’re not alone. That may be grief. And it doesn’t follow a timeline. We’re whole human beings so what we’re feeling doesn’t disappear just because we’re on the clock.

🗣️ Even if we don’t name it out loud, grief shapes how we think, feel, relate, and lead. It impacts our energy, our focus, our sense of safety. That’s why it’s so important we create space to acknowledge it—without judgment or expectation.

🗣️ I can’t take away the grief we’re all holding, but I do want this to be a place where no one has to grieve alone. Where your humanity isn’t something you have to hide to be seen as capable.

🗣️ Naming grief doesn’t mean we’re giving up. It means we’re telling the truth. And telling the truth is how healing begins.

sample discussion prompts

Invite responses in a way that works best for your team—anonymously, in 1:1s, or in small group discussions depending on your team's readiness.

💬 Grief isn’t something we often talk about at work. What would it look like to make space for grief in a way that isn’t performative but feels respectful, compassionate, and real?

💬 If you feel comfortable sharing with us, what’s something you’ve lost recently—personally or professionally—that still weighs on you? And what helps you feel supported when you're grieving, even quietly?

additional resources + information

• What’s Your Grief – Tools, stories, and education: www.whatsyourgrief.com
• Modern Loss – Resources for navigating life after loss: www.modernloss.com
• Grief Stories – Audio and video playlists for processing and supporting grief:www.griefstories.org/