Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newsletter

Brought to you by ieadvocates (invisible employee advocates)

Thank you for being here!

Intrinsic in most working caregiver stories are human experiences of love, sacrifice and profound loss. When an employee has been struggling through work and caregiving responsibilities, the death of their loved one can have a tremendous affect on their emotional well-being. Supporting employees through caregiver bereavement, however, is often inadequately addressed or even completely overlooked in workplace practices and policies. 

In this edition, we look at how workplaces can better prepare themselves to cope with caregiver bereavement and why it matters. Caregiver bereavement does not look or feel the same for everyone. The standard 1 to 5 days off to grieve are typically woefully inadequate to address the loss of a loved one, along with their accompanying loss of purpose and identity. 

By training managers to show empathy, providing grief support resources, and sufficient time to begin the healing process, employers have an opportunity to shift the narrative around bereavement in the workplace. Creating a work environment that understands how to embrace a caregiving employee back on the team after a loss, can go a long way in boosting employee well-being and retention. Caregiving bereavement is more than a time of personal sorrow for the employee; it’s an opportunity for employers to foster a culture that values and supports the whole person through their care journey before and after the loss.

Table of Contents

• Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newslet …

  • In the news:

  • People and Companies In the spotlight:

  • Stories From Real Working Caregivers:

  • Recommended media content:

  • With gratitude, we share a book review:

    • Order Our Book Here

In the news:

This an excellent quick read about bereavement leave and how it is handled across the country. Employers need to stay updated on federal policies and state mandates not only for compliance but also to ensure they are doing everything they can to support their employees during times of grief.

There are examples of what some states and some employers are doing when it comes to bereavement leave.

• “Massachusetts, known for supportive workplace policies, often sees companies that provide extended leave up to 10 days, reflecting a culture that values employee well-being”

• “Many forward-thinking organizations are setting the standard for bereavement leave practices. For example, companies like LinkedIn and Salesforce have developed policies that include paid leave for in-law bereavement, thereby affirming their commitment to employee well-being”

Bereave is a centralized platform that supports entire organizations through loss and grief. HR and managers receive structured frameworks, training, and task support to navigate loss with confidence. Employees get personalized grief care and help with post-loss responsibilities, supporting faster recovery and reduced burnout.

Read the article here.  

This blog discusses what bereavement leave is, what it should be, and how it can impact employees in a positive way if employers implement them effectively.

Why is bereavement leave so important? This blog shares the following statistics:

• “According to a Bereave poll, 51% of employees who experienced this kind of loss leave their job within 12 months.”

• Nearly 95% of people reported suffering from mental or physical distress after a loss, and 84% said these symptoms disrupted their daily life.

Note: The second statistic comes from a comprehensive report by empathy called The Grief Tax. Worth reviewing.

Employers like Adobe and Google offer up to 20 days of paid bereavement leave for the death of an immediate family member and Johnson & Johnson offers up to 30 days.

AbsenceSoft is a leading provider of leave and accommodations management SaaS solutions.

Read the article here.

Did you know? (Read our blog):

Working Caregiver Bereavement: How Employers Can Lead With Empathy? (Blog 8/12/25)

It’s been said that the final stage of caregiving is bereavement. On the one hand, bereavement is indeed the final stage of caring, but on the other hand, bereavement is the beginning stage of something else – grief. Often, where an employee has spent long periods (months or even years) caring for a loved one, the loss of that individual represents more than just the loss of the person; it’s the loss of daily routines and a major part of the caregiver’s identity. This is complicated by workplace cultures that are uncertain about how to welcome the grieving employee back into the fold. Colleagues may be at a loss for what to say to the returning employee, and as a result, they say nothing. This only adds to the employee’s feelings of isolation and loneliness. So, what can employers do to help support their bereaved employees during this difficult part of their care journey? Let’s talk.

Read blog here

People and Companies In the spotlight:

Episode 23: Grief, Caregiving, and the Power of Connection – with Leslie Weirich

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with our friend and grief advocate, Leslie Weirich, whose decades-long journey through caregiving and loss has shaped her mission to bring hope and understanding to others. From caring for aging parents and siblings to navigating unimaginable personal tragedies, Leslie’s story offers both powerful perspective and practical wisdom for anyone touched by grief or the caregiving experience.

We explore the parallels between caregiving and grief, the importance of creating supportive workplaces, and why connection truly is protection. Leslie shares the inspiration behind her book The Gift of Grief, along with candid thoughts on why traditional bereavement policies fall short and how employers can better support their people. Whether you’re a caregiver, an HR leader, or someone walking through loss, this conversation will leave you with hope, tools, and a renewed sense of community.

Leslie Weirich has been speaking on the topic of Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Grief since 2017. She often says, “She didn’t choose this work, but this work chose her.” Through her own experiences, she discovered the transformative power of grief, learning to navigate the complexities of loss and uncovering the resilience that emerges from pain.  Her commitment to mental health support is deeply personal, having been greatly affected by the loss of her son. On September 10, 2016, her door bell rang at 2:30 in the morning and changed her life forever. Her 20-year-old son Austin died by suicide while a Junior at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, IN.  She resigned from her full-time job as a recruiter and began speaking throughout the nation and never looked back.  She wrote "The Gifts of Grief," in 2024, which details her journey through four decades of personal loss. 

Stories From Real Working Caregivers:

Meet JJ Elliott Hill, a real working caregiver

JJ Elliott Hill, MBA, is a finance executive turned entrepreneur, caregiver advocate, and podcast co-host. With over 17 years in commercial banking, she advised small to mid-sized businesses on strategic growth, asset management, and navigating regulatory and merger transitions. But in 2013, a corporate downsizing shifted her trajectory—leading her to co-found three startups spanning retail, manufacturing, and real estate. In 2023, J.J. co-founded the Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver  podcast to raise awareness for the 53 million Americans caring for loved ones—just like she has done since 2019 for her mother, a 22-year Parkinson’s patient. What began as a personal story has grown into a global caregiving platform, with over 300,000 monthly downloads and streams in 54 countries. In 2024, J.J. brought that same strategic mindset to the caregiving space as co-founder and CFO of CareForward, a public benefit company dedicated to supporting caregivers and the communities around them through technology-driven solutions and volunteer networks.

Read the entire interview here

Recommended media content:

PODCASTS

Thanks For Asking. A call-in show from author Nora McInerny that lets real people get real honest about how they're really doing. Operators(me) are standing by to take your calls.

This was found on Bereave’s page Podcasts About Grief & Grief Recovery. You will find a few other good recommendations on this page.

VIDEOS

Grief in the Workplace Tips for Employers and Leaders from Megan Devine. September 2024. In this episode of Grief for Breakfast, I dive into the complex topic of grief in the workplace. I explore the challenges employers and team leaders face when supporting grieving employees while also managing workplace productivity. Grief isn’t solely tied to death; it can arise from various life disruptions like infertility, natural disasters, or significant personal losses.

 BOOKS

The Gifts of Grief by Leslie Weirich is a poignant and deeply personal account that navigates the harrowing experience of loss and the profound impact of grief. Leslie recounts the fateful night when her son, Austin, passed away, taking readers on a gripping emotional journey marked by pain, hope, and resilience. Through her own experiences, she discovers the transformative power of grief, learning to navigate the complexities of loss and uncovering the resilience that emerges from pain. In this intimate memoir, Leslie illuminates the nonlinear nature of the grieving process, emphasizing the intricate ways in which memories resurface and emotions fluctuate.The Gifts of Grief is a moving exploration of finding meaning and solace in the face of heartfelt tragedy and loss, offering hope and comfort to those on a similar journey.

With gratitude, we share a book review:

We want to thank Anastasia Demopoulos who took the time to read our book and provide a thoughtful ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐review!

“This book is super insightful for anyone who is caregiving for a loved one(s) or will be in the future, while also juggling their own employment. What makes this book unique is the way it is told through Zack and Selma’s storytelling and tips to navigating caregiving through powerful content. Highly recommend and super helpful read!”

Order your copy of Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees book here. If you want to order a quantity of books for your leadership team and employees, contact us directly about discount pricing.

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