Grief is an emotional experience that can touch every aspect of our lives, often in unexpected ways. Whether it stems from the loss of a loved one, a significant life change, or even the end of a personal or professional relationship, grief can feel overwhelming. For many, the impact of loss doesn’t remain confined to personal time, it also effects one’s ability to perform and navigate the workplace.
The effects of grief within the workplace influences our focus, productivity and interactions with colleagues. In the workplace, managing loss can feel daunting and isolating. atWork Australia and our in-house Wellness team understand the complex journey of grief inside and outside the workplace. Our support services, includes grief and bereavement counselling, and is designed to help individuals process their emotions while maintaining a sense of stability and purpose in the workplace. In this blog, we’ll explore how grief can impact your professional life and highlight the ways atWork Australia is here to guide you through this difficult time, empowering you to rebuild confidence and resilience at your own pace.
Counselling The Bereaved: The Impact of Loss
Grief is a response to loss that can affect every aspect of a person’s life, including their physical health, emotional wellbeing, in turn effecting their ability to perform at work/search for work. It affects everyone in different ways but below are common ways it affects you both physically and emotionally.
Physical: Grief often takes a physical toll on the body, causing chronic fatigue, disrupted sleep, and muscle tension. These symptoms can impair concentration and energy levels, making routine tasks feel impossible.
Emotional: Feelings of sadness, anger, guilt, or emotional numbness can dominate a grieving person’s thoughts, affecting their ability to communicate effectively or make decisions. This emotional strain may also lead to anxiety or depression, further impacting their wellbeing and work performance.
For many, grief and managing the effects of grief is not a linear process but an ongoing journey with lots of ups and downs. Grief makes even simple daily tasks feel overwhelming, often leaving individuals to feel imbalanced in their personal and professional lives. Recognising the way these can impact your life is essential for opening conversations, reaching out for help, and creating an environment that helps you navigate your grief in a way that works for you.
Collaboration with Allied Health and Wellness Services
To get the support you need to manage your grief, a tailored approach needs to be developed with your specific needs and wants in mind. This might include reaching out for support from your close friends and family for tasks that now feel impossible. Peer support is invaluable in this time. If you are currently in work and feel comfortable, it is also worth mentioning this to your manager. Although it might not feel like they will be able to help much, they should be able to be able to provide support in some capacity.
It is also important that you seek professional allied health advice and support from specialist grief counsellors. In Australia, there is a range of ways you can access these services. Allied health support plays a vital role in helping individuals navigate the complexities of grief. Professionals such as psychologists, grief counsellors, and social workers provide a safe and supportive environment to process emotions, develop coping strategies, and rebuild resilience during a challenging time. Allied health practitioners are uniquely equipped to address these multifaceted impacts, offering personalised care that helps individuals find stability and strength. Their expertise ensures that no one must face the journey through loss alone, fostering recovery and a renewed sense of hope.
Navigating Grief with atWork Australia
If you are eligible for the services of atWork Australia, you will have access to a range of our internal wellness services and professionals. By partnering with our psychologists, grief and bereavement counsellors, and other wellness professionals, we ensure that our clients have access to holistic care that addresses both emotional and practical challenges. This collaborative approach allows us to create personalised plans that promote healing and resilience while empowering you to regain confidence in your abilities.
Alongside your Job Coach, your Wellness Advisor will create a plan that works for you, your goals, your skills, and your current journey to employment. Your experience is tailored to you and your needs, now and into the future. We are here to assist with managing your mental health and grief whilst you are job searching or are currently in work. Wellness Services have supported many of our clients on their journey to employment. You can read some of their stories here.
atWork Australia understands that grief is a deeply personal journey, and we are here to provide compassionate, tailored support every step of the way. Through collaboration with allied health services and a focus on holistic wellbeing, we empower individuals to navigate loss while rebuilding confidence and finding purpose in their work .Not sure if you are eligible for our Disability Employment Services or Workforce Australia services? Please call us on 1300 080 856 or contact the team via our registration page.
