CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

In the Media: New York Life leaders discuss navigating grief in the workplace.

New York Life | January 14, 2025

Annually commissioned by the New York Life Foundation to evaluate the bereavement landscape, the 2024 State of Grief Report highlighted not only the ongoing need, but also a growing desire, for holistic help and support for those experiencing grief in workplaces, schools, and communities. This year’s report resonated in a variety of ways, including with media, particularly concerning findings related to grief support in the workplace and New York Life Foundation’s new Grief-Supportive Workplace Initiative.

In the articles below, the perspectives of New York Life Foundation President Heather Nesle, Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, and Head of Human Resources Business Enablement Kathleen Navarro, and New York Life Foundation Vice President Maria Collins are featured.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT NEWS: Employees want more from their companies' bereavement policies

“There isn't much thought to the longer-term consequences or opportunities to support employees beyond that initial incident," Heather Nesle notes as she explains the rationale behind adopting bereavement support initiatives.

WORKLIFE: Handling tragedy: HR’s role when an employee or their loved one dies

Nesle shares how New York Life’s internal resources have helped colleagues experiencing grief, explaining, “The only thing that really holds people back is the worry they’re going to say or do the wrong thing. That’s where these tangible tips come in. The modules are built to give people the reassurance and the knowledge to approach the situation in the right way.”

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HR BREW: HR can step in to relieve stress when an employee passes away

“We spend so much time together—good times and bad times together—and then when a colleague passes away, it’s a real loss,” Kathleen Navarro observes as she explores the complexities of grief following the loss of a coworker and advises HR leaders to develop detailed protocols to create space for grief in the workplace.

BENEFITSPRO: Offering bereavement support remains a challenge in the workplace

In her interview, Maria Collins shares New York Life’s goal to promote comprehensive bereavement support via our research, stating, “This year's State of Grief report provides opportunities for action. We encourage all to reflect on how best to bring these resources to their employers, schools, and communities to support those who may be grieving and to foster a more grief-supportive culture."

The State of Grief Report was also referenced in Psychology Today article “Good Grief: What Does It Mean to Mourn in a Healthy Way?” and Less Than Half of Pre-Retirees Actively Saving for Retirement by 401kSpecialist.

As Nesle, Navarro, and Collins note, the State of Grief Report is one of several initiatives led by the New York Life Foundation to create a comprehensive approach to bereavement support. Since 2008, the Foundation has invested more than $75 million to fund organizations with shared goals and develop resources and tools to support those grieving in our communities. This work includes New York Life’s Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative® (GSSI), which raises awareness about grief and supportive resources in schools through the deployment of the company’s nationwide workforce, as well as GSSI+, an expansion of GSSI to out-of-school-time settings.

Learn more about New York Life’s commitment to grief support here.