WHEN GRIEF ENTERS THE WORKPLACE

When grief enters the workplace, most organizations freeze. We don't.

Wayfinder Workplace teaches leaders and teams the skills to lean into the hard conversations - the ones that are easily ignored, resulting in costly outcomes. We bring solutions and tools to build grief-readiness with compassion, clarity, and purpose.

Take action. Your people are worth it.

LET'S GET TO WORK

  • Sherry Haycraft created Wayfinder Workplace after experiencing firsthand the impact of how organizations can fail their people during life’s hardest transitions. As a multi-certified End-of-Life Specialist and Grief Educator, Sherry brings robust credentials and lived experience to every engagement.

    Her personal journey through trauma and loss serves as the catalyst for her mission. She challenges leaders to dig deeper into uncomfortable conversations - to reimagine a workplace where success is measured by elevated leadership and sustainable employee retention.

    Nobody said it was easy - effectively leading a team in harmony with “grit” and "grief wisdom" requires a blend of forward-thinking, emotional depth, and professional integrity. Seeing the critical need for this training, Sherry works with leaders motivated to receive the emotions that affect everyone at some point. To develop a culture that is grief informed & responds courageously to the realities of workplace mental health. Because when people are supported through their worst days, they feel valued. And they stay.

  • When bringing grief literacy to the workplace - we believe in keeping things simple, smart, and human. The approach is built on one core truth: when organizations take grief seriously, everything improves - from employee retention to productivity, to culture and outcomes. Every conversation, workshop, or training starts with listening and ends with insights you can think deeply about and tools you can immediately put to work.

    • From first responders to last call bartenders.

    • From hard hats to laptops.

    • From the ER to HR.

    If your people experience human emotions of loss & grief, there is something to learn from our training. We meet your team where they are, providing the grief wisdom needed for any professional environment.

  • Our work is backed by some of the most respected certifications in the industry:

    • David Kessler - Grief Educator (2025)

    • Going with Grace - Death Doula (2021)

    • Doulagivers Specialist CEOLD, Care Consultant, Elder Care Specialist
      (2021)

    • NEDA Member -
      Proficiency Badge (2021)

      • Note: This badge represents a higher level of verified core competency within the alliance

    • SHRM - Workplace Mental Health Ally
      (2026)

BE PROACTIVE & PREPARED

When grief shows up at your workplace - and it will - will leadership be ready? Real conversations your managers may already be avoiding:

  • Death of a spouse, partner, or loved one

  • Someone who just received a serious health diagnosis

  • Someone facing a divorce and/or custody battle

  • Struggling with infertility

  • Loss of a beloved pet

  • A parent is diagnosed with dementia

  • Sudden loss of pregnancy or stillbirth

  • Someone in the “sandwich” generation juggling day care AND caregiving

  • Stigmatized loss that is difficult to openly share

HARD TRUTHS

Unsupported employees report lower loyalty and morale - taking skills with them upon resignation.

Turnover driven by poor support costs employers up to 150% of the employee's annual salary.

Grieving employees suffer from brain fog and emotional distress, leading to mistakes, accidents, and injury on the job.

DEVELOP SKILLS & SOLUTIONS

We equip your managers and HR leaders with the real-world skills to handle grief with a new approach. After training, your team leaders will be confident to:

  • Respond to personal loss in a way that builds trust, not awkwardness

  • Witness the nuances a grieving team member may display that might be easily missed

  • Thoughtfully & professionally address performance issues and offer sustainable solutions

  • Handle difficult conversations with both honesty and compassion

  • Communicate skillfully to avoid minimizing what someone is carrying

  • Create a culture where employees feel seen & respected by the entire team

  • Know when to refer an employee to additional support and how to do it gracefully

THE COST

$225.8 BILLION lost every year by U.S. companies to unsupported workplace grief through absenteeism, errors, and lost productivity.

Source: CDC / Grief Recovery Institute

THE PEOPLE

One in four employees is grieving at any given moment. Grief doesn't wait for a convenient time and neither does its impact on your team.

Source: Grief Recovery Institute

THE TURNOVER

More than half of grieving employees will consider leaving a job where they feel unsupported after a loss.


Source: National Council for Palliative Care and Dying Matters

Tier 1 - Grief in the Workplace
Lunch & Learn 60-90 minutes | All staff or mixed teams | Up to 40 attendees

A high-impact session that gives your whole team a shared language around grief. Powerful training before a crisis occurs, but imperative after the chaos of grief lands in the workplace.

  • What grief actually looks like at work - styles & forms

  • Skillful vs Unskillful communication

  • How to support without overstepping

  • Grief Wisdom Points - reference handout included

  • Live Q&A

Starting at $775

Tier 2 - Managing Through Loss
Half-Day Workshop 3–4 hours | HR professionals & people managers | 10–20 attendees

In-depth education for Leadership & Management. Comprehensive training for increased emotional intelligence & grief literacy skills to lead with confidence & compassion. Start the shift to reinforce a strong foundation for respect, appreciation, and loyalty company-wide.

  • Tier 1 training overview

  • The full grief spectrum with examples

  • Risk Reduction vs Risk Mitigation for Grief in the Workplace

  • Accommodations that don't require policy rewrites

  • When to refer and to what resources

  • Develop a grief-aware team culture built on values and purpose

Starting at $1,300

Tier 3 - The Grief-Ready Organization
Full-Day or Multi-Session Full day or 3 x half-days | Leadership + HR + optional all-staff component

A culture shift, not just a training. For organizations ready to grow forward with intention. Comprehensive and sustainable guiding principles for a grief-ready workplace.

  • Tier 1 & 2 training

  • What’s at Stake - legal exposure, turnover cost, presenteeism, workforce gaps, culture erosion, reputation risk, productivity disruption

  • Grief Response Blueprint - retention strategy, review & rewrite bereavement policies

  • Optional 90-day follow-up check-in call

Starting at $2,700

1:1 Consulting

For HR professionals, managers, and leaders navigating real-time grief situations - a workplace death, a struggling employee, specific grief related topic(s) requiring additional coaching.

  • Responsive, private, and tailored to your exact situation

  • Available as single sessions or ongoing engagements

  • For individuals or small leadership teams

  • Virtual or in-person (Inland Empire & Orange County)


    Rates vary by engagement - reach out for a custom quote

let's get to work

Training & Credentials

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and apply.

let's work together

  • No. A certified grief educator offers peer to peer coaching and consulting. We are not therapists, and there is no clinical or medical treatment as a part of our services. We offer a range of practical solutions for real-world challenges of workplace grief. Our services are tailored to help you connect with employees with a deeper understanding and empathy.

  • Separate from the workplace workshops and leadership consulting, our Wayfinder Life & Legacy services are available to any individual. We offer facilitated group or private 1:1 support for grief, advance care planning, and end of life services.

  • Absolutely. Every workplace culture is different, so we will adapt to meet your needs.

  • You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly, usually within one business day. You can click here to email us directly.

  • You will see that we have included a price range on our workshops. With private and 1:1 consultation, we offer flexible pricing based on project type and complexity. After an initial conversation, we’ll provide a transparent quote with no hidden costs.

  • Not at all. Grief comes in so many forms, and we cover the different types of grief in our workshops. Should your company have a specific need, we will be sure to shine a brighter light on those topics.