How grief might affect your work

You might be thinking about how your feelings of grief may affect you at work and what support is available.

On this page:

Grief and work

Sudden feelings of grief

Finding work difficult

Feeling relieved to be at work

Things that can help

Grief and work

Grief affects everyone differently and how you feel may change over time. You might feel tired, anxious, sad or angry. Grief can also cause problems with concentration and sleeping. All of these things can affect your work.

You might be thinking about how long your feelings of grief might last for or how long it might affect your work. This is different for everyone and there is no set timeframe for grief. 

It can help to find out more about grief, including the different feelings you might have and how these can change over time.

Sudden feelings of grief

You may find that you have intense feelings unexpectedly or your feelings change quickly. Some people describe being hit unexpectedly by a sudden 'wave of grief'.

It can help to plan how you might deal with this at work – for example, taking some deep breaths, speaking to a colleague or going for a short walk if that's possible. It can help to speak to your line manager about what is possible and how they can support you if this happens.

Finding work difficult

Some people find that tasks at work take longer to complete or are more challenging than before. You might find yourself thinking about the person who died or feel overwhelmed at work. This is normal given what you're going through.

If this is happening, try not to put too much pressure on yourself and allow yourself breaks if possible. You could try to set smaller, achievable tasks during your working day.

It can also help to explain this to your manager so they know what to expect and can set realistic expectations with you. You could also speak to them about changing your working hours, if that might help. Find out more about going back to work.

Feeling relieved to be at work

Some people find that work is a distraction from thinking about the person who died. This can sometimes make people feel relieved.

Try not to feel guilty about this – it is not a reflection on how much you cared for the person who died or your relationship with them. It's normal to want a break from your feelings of grief and to be able to part in something that isn't just about your bereavement.

Things that can help

Before you go back to work, it can be helpful to think about what you want your colleagues to be told. You may also want to think about what you might do if you feel overwhelmed with grief at work. Find out more on our page going back to work.

It can help to talk to your HR team or your line manager about how you're feeling. They may be able to make adjustments to your work or support you in other ways. 

Ask your HR team or line manager about what support they can provide – for example, your work may have an Employee Assistance Programme where you can access counselling or support. Find out more on our page getting support at work.

You might also find it useful to talk to your colleagues as it can help them to understand how you're feeling.

There are lots of ways you can look after yourself and get support. You can also call the Marie Curie Support Line for free on 0800 090 2309.

You may also find it helpful to look through our Talkabout hub where you can hear from other people who've been through a similar experience.

More stories, articles and guidance on grief  >

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