“How to PAUSE for Grief at Work”

What is “How to PAUSE for Grief at Work”?

“How to PAUSE for Grief at Work” is an exciting new course that is designed to support workplace leaders (HR Managers, People Managers, ERG Leaders, and C-Suite) who want to better care for their employees navigating grief, death, serious illness, and bereavement leave.

This course features insights and resources from leaders across the end-of-life, HR, business, healthcare, mental health fields, as well as numerous learning modules to support various roles, circumstances, and interests.

Why is this topic important?

Treating your employees like the humans that they are means recognizing the complexities that come with being human. And these complexities don’t disappear the minute we walk through the door at work - we carry our lived experience to the computer, our desks, and through the office door. Employers who not only acknowledge that but also embrace it create better environments for their folks to show up in every day.

At PAUSE, we consider this topic important because it is something that all employers, employees, and workplaces will need to navigate at some point, which means that the universal experience of loss should be universally addressed at work.

Supporting employees and colleagues through grief is not only compassionate, but it can also impact your company’s retention, morale, and culture. In this course, we explore the recent data and research that highlights the critical attention all workplaces should put on having comprehensive, culturally-informed bereavement responses.

🧑‍💻 Retention

25% of women ~ especially Black women, LGBTQ+ women, and women with disabilities ~ rank bereavement leave as a top workplace benefit (LeanIn.org & McKinsey, 2023). Offering robust bereavement policies can therefore be pivotal in supporting and in turn retaining diverse talent and fostering an inclusive workplace.

😌 Employee health & wellbeing

An employee who feels supported is more likely to take care of themselves, allowing them to participate and contribute to a healthy team environment. If you entered HR, People Ops, Management, or built your team from the ground up, it can be assumed that your intentions are to hold people the best you can while they’re in your hands at work. Investing in a universal experience that ALL employees will face at some point in their career (loss) will carry out your initial intention of caring for the folks you employ, grow, and shape every day.

⭐ Productivity

SHRM highlighted that inadequate bereavement support can result in physical and mental health issues among employees, directly impacting not only the individuals’s wellbeing but also organizational efficiency. Implementing supportive policies can mitigate these challenges and promote a healthier work environment for all - both individually and institution-wide.

⌛ Modernization

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the workforce. In the U.S., approximately 868,000 deaths due to COVID-19 have resulted in an estimated 7.8 million close family members grieving a loss. Leading companies (LinkedIn, Microsoft, Salesforce, Goldman Sachs, etc.) are expanding their bereavement policies to better support employees with more time, more resources, and more support. These changes reflect a growing acknowledgment of the importance of allowing employees adequate time to grieve.

💸 Financial implications

Grief-related losses cost U.S. companies an estimated $75 billion annually due to decreased involvement in work, productivity, and errors (in this course, we examine WHY this happens and how to meet folks where they’re at). Addressing these challenges through comprehensive bereavement support can alleviate financial strains and enhance overall organizational performance.

😍 Loyalty & Pride

A survey by the New York Life Foundation revealed that 76% of individuals consider bereavement benefits important when choosing a new job. Additionally, 85% expressed pride in working for employers that are supportive during times of grief. These findings indicate that comprehensive bereavement policies can enhance employee satisfaction and loyalty.

Who is this course for?

HR leaders who want to update policies and responses to death and grief. HR leaders who care.

Managers who want to know what more they can say, do, and plan for when it comes to supporting their employees through grief and bereavement leave. Managers who care.

Employees who want to learn how to advocate for their own support while they are caregiving or navigating a loss. Employees who care.

Business owners who are thinking about what types of benefits they want to offer - to protect their business, as well as support their employees. Businesses that care.

Anyone who is interested in how we can change our workplaces for the better. People who care.

What does the course include?

5 interactive modules

On-demand, self-paced

  • Section 1: WHY IS TALKING ABOUT DEATH AT WORK IMPORTANT?

    Section 2: DEFINING OUR TERMS

    Section 3: HOW GRIEF AND DEATH IMPACT US AT WORK

    Section 4: WHAT IS A BEREAVEMENT POLICY AND BEREAVEMENT RESPONSE?

    Section 5: HOW CAN WE SUPPORT FOLKS WITH BETTER POLICIES AND RESPONSES?

    Section 6: WHAT ARE SOME EASY FIRST STEPS?

    SECTION 7: WHAT IMPACT DOES HAVING AN UPDATED BEREAVEMENT RESPONSE HAVE ON AN EMPLOYEE, TEAM, AND COMPANY?

    SECTION 8: CLOSING

  • Section 1: GRIEF, DEATH, AND INTERSECTIONALITY

    Section 2: DEFINING OUR TERMS

    Section 3: TYPES OF GRIEF AND HOW THEY’RE UNIQUELY EXPERIENCED BY FOLKS OF CERTAIN IDENTITIES

    Section 4: ISSUES FOLKS FACE WHEN SEEKING SUPPORT

    Section 5: HOW THIS IMPACTS OUR EXPERIENCE WITH GRIEF AND DEATH AT WORK

    Section 6: CLOSING

  • Section 1: NON-DEATH-RELATED GRIEF

    Section 2: DEFINING OUR TERMS

    Section 3: TYPES OF NON-DEATH GRIEF

    Section 4: HOW THESE TYPES OF GRIEF MANIFEST

    Section 5: HOW THESE TYPES OF GRIEF IMPACT US AT WORK

    Section 6: HOW TO SUPPORT FOLKS THROUGH THESE TYPES OF GRIEF THROUGH YOUR BEREAVEMENT RESPONSE

    Section 7: CLOSING

  • Section 1: BEREAVEMENT LEAVE BASICS

    Section 2: CREATING OR UPDATING YOUR POLICY - WHY?

    Section 3: CREATING OR UPDATING YOUR POLICY - HOW?

    Section 4: FOR FOLKS/ORGS STARTING FROM SCRATCH

    Section 5: EXAMPLE FRAMEWORK

    Section 6: FOR FOLKS/ORGS REWORKING SOMETHING EXISTING

    Section 7: EXAMPLE FRAMEWORK

    Section 8: CONSIDERATIONS FOR INCLUSIVITY

    Section 9: ROLLING OUT YOUR POLICY

    Section 10: BEREAVEMENT POLICY/RESPONSE RESOURCES

    Section 11: CLOSING

  • Section 1: HOW MIGHT WE BETTER CARE FOR EMPLOYEES/COLLEAGUES WHO ARE SEEKING SUPPORT?

    Section 2: OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND SUPPORT - WITHOUT UPDATING POLICY! (Communication, resources, internal and external trainings, what to say/what not to say, modeling, etc.)

    Section 3: CLOSING

Dozens of activities, worksheets, scripts, and resource lists

  • Every single module includes multiple activities that you’ll be encouraged to do on your own and with others. These activities include role-playing conversations, reflections, journaling, and more.

    All of these activities are custom-created for this course by PAUSE.

  • All modules include numerous worksheets that encourage you to reflect on your own experiences with grief in the workplace, topics you’re learning about in the course, and more.

    All worksheets were custom-created for this course by PAUSE.

  • All modules include scripts for you to utilize in your own conversations, as well as scripts to practice having tough conversations.

    All scripts are custom-created for this course by PAUSE.

  • PAUSE has created extensive resource lists that provide you with hundreds of things to read, watch, listen to, share, and download - to better support you in your learning journey, as well as your colleagues/employees in their grieving journey.

    All resources shared are created by folks with very diverse identities - including folks of color, LGBTQ* community, folks in different deathcare professions, and more.

Support beyond the course

  • Connect with the PAUSE team for 1-1 conversations and consulting, further resources that are specific to your workplace, or bereavement policy audits or support.

  • PAUSE will be connecting folks who have taken the course - via community meet ups, supplemental workshops ONLY for folks who have taken the course, and even Los-Angeles-based dinners that’ll bring together people who are continuing their learning journey.

  • Throughout the year PAUSE hosts workshops, webinars, meet ups, and conference events that will bring more learning, education, opportunities to connect, and resources to the community. Folks who take the course will be invited and can receive special perks and discounts on these events.

  • PAUSE has created extensive resource lists that provide you with hundreds of things to read, watch, listen to, share, and download - to better support you in your learning journey, as well as your colleagues/employees in their grieving journey.

    All resources shared are created by folks with very diverse identities - including folks of color, LGBTQ* community, folks in different deathcare professions, and more.

Interested in learning more or taking the course?

THANK YOU for your interest in making your workplace more compassionate, safe, and grief-informed. Please fill out the interest form below and we’ll be in touch soon!

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What people are saying

  • Alica was full of facts as well as anecdotal information for her presentation. She is clearly knowledgeable and passionate about this topic. My only regret is not having more time with her to learn, explore, and discuss solutions.

    ~ “Grief, Death, and Intersectionality” Workshop Attendee

  • Alica was an incredible educator and speaker on how to support Communities of Color through grief and end of life. I’m still processing all I learned and have so much more work to do to understand the intersection of grief and race. As a LA resident it’s wonderful to know Alica and PAUSE are here to help support and be a resource. We can all work together to help those in need.

    ~ “Grief, Death, and Intersectionality” Workshop Attendee

  • PAUSE has shown me the potential of a dream and bringing together people dedicated to doing good. In a world that's felt at times hopeless as at least a lot overwhelming, the progress that PAUSE has been able to make...in dreaming, convening, and encouraging people to come together to build a more inclusive space for BIPOC people at the end of life...has planted seeds to change the world. Organizations like this one that are building the world we all deserve to live in.

    ~ Aubrey Blanche, Culture Amp

  • What’s been most inspiring about PAUSE is watching the growth of the organization which underscores the necessity of the work that we are doing. Finally, when faced with questions about how communities of color are supported in their grief, I have an organization I trust to point to. The work of PAUSE is imperative.

    ~ Alua Arthur, Going with Grace

Learn about the course creator

Alica Forneret, PAUSE Founder & Executive Director

“People shouldn’t have to walk on eggshells around you…” 

“Everyone is always going through something… we can’t just take off days whenever we want.”

“This is where we come to do business… you need to check your dead mom at the door.”

These are all things I’ve heard directly from my past employers when talking about my grief. And to this day I still find these statements startling and disappointing. But they’re what fueled me to explore how grief and death are handled in the workplace. And more importantly - how everyone can handle them better.

For a decade, I’ve been navigating grief in the workplace - as a griever, an employer, and a consultant. My work has consistently focused on how we can support each other through death-related loss and the grief sparked by (and before) end-of-life experiences. Fiercely committed to making sure that our conversations about grief, death, and dying go beyond hospital rooms and funeral homes, I am excited to contribute to how we handle grief in the workplace, in our personal relationships, publicly, and very specifically, the grieving process for People of Color and diverse identities.

I’ve consulted on product development and systems change to help companies create resources and tools for grieving communities. I facilitate sessions focused on inclusive bereavement responses and how to address grief at work for companies including Google, Culture Amp, Nielsen, and The California Department of Education. And I have partners on international projects with The Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation, Columbia University, and lululemon. I am a member of ADEC (Association of Death Education and Counseling), SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), C-TAC (Coalition to Transform Advance Care Planning), SAGE (Advocacy for LGBTQ* Elders), BHN (Black Health Network).

I’ve been in the shoes of the employer and the employee - and am excited to bring this course into the world to support both!