Grief is a natural reaction to the loss of a loved one. The side effects are well-known, including intense sadness, depression and irritability—just to name a few. When employees are grieving, it can be difficult for them to focus on anything other than their loss.
In fact, the Grief Recovery Institute found that grieving workers cost employers between $75 billion and $100 billion annually through lost productivity and absenteeism. That’s not surprising, given that 85% of workers said grief affects their decision making capabilities and productivity levels, according to the same report.