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Glenda Fisk knows all too well what it’s like to grieve while trying to show up for her students and perform in a new and demanding job.  

She was a new professor when her mother was diagnosed with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis, a disease that gradually robbed her of the vibrant, capable woman she had always known.

“It was the most hellish of decades,” says Dr. Fisk, a ���ϳԹ���Դ researcher and associate professor. “And there isn’t recognition of that kind of grieving. We often equate grieving with bereavement and death, but grief impacts us individually. We don’t all experience it the same way.”

What began as a deeply personal experience would eventually come to fuel her passion and research interest in how we define grief and support colleagues facing loss.

Dr. Fisk and her colleague Jacoba Lilius are bringing these insights to the Queen's community through an interactive series on grief, resilience, and healing called Grief Literacy in the Workplace. First offered last year, the program has expanded to three in-depth sessions for faculty and staff due to demand.  

The series is part of Thrive Month, a pilot expansion of the university’s annual Thrive Week initiative, taking place from November 2 to 30.

Dr. Fisk says the series will begin by exploring how grief, which is often associated with death and bereavement, can arise from many kinds of loss. These can include everything from divorce, loss of health or financial stability, to a miscarriage, or the death of a beloved pet.  

The series is designed to increase awareness of grief and build confidence in supporting colleagues who may be struggling. It also responds to requests HR receives from leaders seeking guidance on how best to support team members who have received devastating news. Despite a genuine desire to help, many employees hesitate to reach out to grieving colleagues for fear of saying the wrong thing or causing additional pain.

“It’s so beneficial to us to have the collaboration between our researchers and Human Resources. They know our work environment and are uniquely positioned to develop supports for our community,” says Sydney Downey, Director, Employee Wellness Services (Human Resources).  

Attendees will leave with a toolkit of practical skills for navigating difficult conversations. The program is also part of a research study exploring the effectiveness of grief literacy training in workplace settings. Participation in the research component of the training is voluntary, and staff can still attend sessions without joining the study.

Join the series:  

• November 10 - Grief Literacy in the Workplace: Understanding Grief, Loss and Suffering
•  November 24 - Grief Literacy in Practice: Supportive Conversations and Workplace Scenarios
• December 1 - Grief Literacy in Action: Reflection, Integration and Everyday Application

Thrive Month events are open to all staff, faculty, and students, and focus on the theme Wellbeing in Action: Skills, Strategies, and Support for Everyday Thriving. For more information about Thrive Month, including event details and registration, visit the Thrive 365 website.