Coping with the Loss of a Colleague and Supporting Teams Through Grief
Grief is one of life’s great hardships and can be especially difficult to manage in a professional environment. When an employee dies, co-workers may experience a wide range of emotions, each coping in their own way. The impact of losing a colleague should not be underestimated, as it can deeply affect individuals and alter team dynamics, ultimately influencing the operations of the entire organization.
Mr. Robert Huggins, Director of Elderly Affairs at the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, as well as a professional psychologist and counselor, shared his expertise as a guest speaker on this subject at SLEF’s monthly virtual meeting in March 2025. He focused on understanding grief, its effects within organizations, and the responsibilities of employers in providing support to grieving employees.
Mr. Huggins emphasized the importance of creating a compassionate and emotionally safe workspace. He highlighted the value of empathy and the need to express care for employees experiencing grief. Providing support systems, such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) or access to licensed grief counselors, was recommended as a way to help employees navigate their emotions during challenging times.
The discussion covered best practices for addressing grief at work, underlining the necessity of having clear grief support policies. There are considerable challenges in managing grief within the workplace, making it crucial for organizations to implement or update procedures. Mr. Huggins encouraged employers and HR personnel to create, review, and update these policies to ensure their organizations are prepared to support employees through loss.