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Grief can make employees feel isolated and unsupported, so rather than expecting them to deal with it away from work, it's important for employers to make space for it in the workplace, a psychotherapist says.

Increased absenteeism, presenteeism and attrition are commonly caused by grief, along with reduced productivity, cognitive performance and innovation, according to Spathis Wellbeing founder Maria Spathis.

Despite this, and the fact that every employee will experience grief and loss of some kind, many managers and workplaces ignore it, she tells HR Daily.

"Grief is something that doesn't end," Spathis says. "When you experience grief or you experience loss, it never ends. It sits in your body. It becomes part of you, and we have to learn to live with it."

Grief also "amplifies" existing workplace stressors and psychosocial hazards, she says...