Join us for our January Monthly Meeting!
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Topic: Workplace Culture, Employee Wellness, and Leadership Development
Brief Synopsis of Program:
Grief for employees doesn’t end when bereavement leave expires and they walk back in the doors. In fact, that’s often when employees need support the most. This session explores what it means to build a grief-informed workplace—one that recognizes grief as a natural human experience that impacts performance, focus, and engagement long after a loss occurs. Attendees will learn how to move beyond policy compliance toward sustainable cultural and leadership practices that normalize compassion. Michelle shares actionable strategies, communication tools, and policy frameworks that HR professionals can implement immediately to support grieving employees while maintaining organizational stability.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the long-term impact of grief on employee well-being, performance, and retention.
2. Identify the key components of a grief-informed workplace, including policy, culture, and leadership practices.
3. Learn communication techniques for managers and HR professionals to navigate sensitive employee conversations with empathy and boundaries.
4. Apply practical tools and frameworks to strengthen organizational culture and develop compassionate, sustainable HR systems that support employees through grief and life crises.
Speaker: Michelle Cramer, On Angel’s Wings
Michelle Cramer is the Founder and Executive Director of On Angels’ Wings, a nonprofit providing therapeutic photography and long-term grief recovery services to families navigating the loss of a child or caring for a medically fragile child. As a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and consultant, she also leads The Compassionate Workplace Initiative, equipping HR professionals and organizational leaders to respond to employees experiencing grief, trauma, and complex life events with confidence and empathy. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience supporting families through loss, Michelle helps organizations create grief-informed policies and cultures that foster compassion, retention, and trust in the workplace.
