Why we need to talk about grief at work | Montrella Cowan | TEDxClarkstown

Employee Engagement & Presenteeism - Employee engagement in corporate America has reached its lowest point in a decade, despite multibillion-dollar investments in workplace wellness initiatives [1] - Presenteeism, where employees are physically present but mentally preoccupied, significantly impacts individuals and organizations worldwide by diminishing morale and workplace efficiency [1] - Intense grief can cause an employee to operate at approximately 70% of their usual productivity in the initial six months following a significant loss [1] - Presenteeism costs the US economy upwards of 15 trillion dollars annually [1] Leadership & Empathy - Traditional approaches to employee performance often involve performance evaluations and outsourcing to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), which can leave employees feeling unsupported during personal crises [1] - Companies often invest in equipment but neglect the emotional well-being of their employees, highlighting a lack of empathy in the workplace [1] - Compassionate leaders who create a grief-sensitive workplace can powerfully drive employee performance and engagement [1] Strategies for a Grief-Sensitive Workplace - The three-step strategy involves: Admit (recognize loss), Omit (eliminate judgment), and Emit (demonstrate empathy) [1][2] - Omitting judgment during grief requires patience and grace, acknowledging the various stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance) [2] - Emitting empathy involves creating meaningful connections, illustrating empathy in action, and empowering employees [2] Economic Impact & Cultural Shift - Unresolved grief is estimated to cost companies 225 billion dollars annually [2] - True leadership involves embedding support for grief into the company culture rather than outsourcing it [3]