crisis
Most employees at one time or another will experience a loss in their personal life, and grief doesn’t wait outside the office doors when they return to work. The true cost of loss impacts employee health, finances, relationships and careers, according to Empathy’s fourth-annual research report.
The report explores the phenomenon known as the Grief Tax, which is the financial, logistical and emotional toll of loss, and underscores the need for cultural progress and conversation around the impact of grief to more effectively support those who have lost a loved one.
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Most companies offer five days of bereavement leave, but the direct impacts of loss on work life and job performance can last up to 18 months, the report said. Nine out of 10 survey respondents reported feeling anxious, lower productivity and difficulty concentrating at work during periods of grief. Three out of four respondents said loss and grief has caused them to lose salary or wages, miss opportunities for raises and promotions, or fear losing their job or health insurance. Seventy-nine percent of respondents said they have considered quitting their job amid their grief.
Millennials and Gen X – which make up the so-called sandwich generation that is often simultaneously raising children while caring for aging parents and juggling careers – bear a disproportionate burden of grief, the report said. This cohort experienced up to 40% more physical symptoms and 36% more emotional symptoms than other generations while carrying the greatest financial and administrative responsibilities of all ages. Physical and emotional consequences suffered across all populations include sleep disruption, chronic headaches, anxiety, and cognitive strain, with many suffering from three or four of these symptoms, according to the study.
Beyond the pain of grief, it can take up to 20 months to settle the affairs of a lost loved one, which continues to create stress for those left behind. Of those surveyed by Empathy, nearly two-thirds were estate executors and the majority were women. Two-thirds of the survey respondents said they had trouble accessing essential documents for getting things in order, which extended the grief and loss timeline. Many served as the primary caregiver of the person who died. About three-quarters of this group reported experiencing panic attacks while grieving.
While mental health and wellbeing have garnered increased attention in recent years, including in the workplace, understanding around the impact of grief remains largely absent, the report said. More than 65% of all respondents reported that grief impacted their ability to participate in everyday activities and 42% admitted to withdrawing socially from family and friends.
“There continues to be a gap in traditional support systems and benefits, and there is a need for open conversation and understanding about the compounding effects grief can have within our homes and workplaces, and on our overall wellbeing," said Ron Gura, co-founder and CEO of Empathy. “By acknowledging the layers of burden and breaking down the taboos surrounding loss, we can work toward creating new standards and more comprehensive support systems that address both the financial and emotional challenges of loss.”
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Kristen Smithberg
Kristen Smithberg is a Colorado-based freelance writer who covers commercial real estate, insurance, benefits and retirement topics for BenefitsPRO and other industry publications.
