Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.
When we experience loss, grief travels with us everywhere — even work. What can companies do to support grieving employees? Sharing his own story of unimaginable heartbreak, Tilak Mandadi offers three ways organizations can cultivate a culture of workplace empathy, creating an environment that encourages community, productivity and joy. (This talk contains mature content)
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.
TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at
Kushagra Saxena
January 19, 2021 at 5:27 pm
Claim if you’re here before 1 million views
Shweta Chauhan
January 19, 2021 at 5:29 pm
Overcoming grief is not easy. Grief consumes a part of yourself and you are not the same person anymore.
kingabaddon music
January 19, 2021 at 5:34 pm
Amen sister😘😘😚😙😙
kingabaddon music
January 19, 2021 at 5:33 pm
Yes first🥎🏈 very sad brother🥰😋😮🔥🌞rip to ur daughter🌞🥉💯💯🎿😮😮
kingabaddon music
January 19, 2021 at 5:33 pm
Hi
artevix
January 19, 2021 at 5:34 pm
That guy is courageous
KD0SKH
January 19, 2021 at 5:35 pm
I don’t think I should frame work as therapeutic… work was how I repressed some things
Usman Titan
January 19, 2021 at 5:39 pm
What Just Happened To TED?
Fred Dobbs
January 19, 2021 at 6:07 pm
Exactly! It’s been hijacked.
Fred Dobbs
January 19, 2021 at 5:39 pm
4th Way Companies Can Support Grieving Employees – “Get over it. You’re not special. Everyone throughout history has grieved. Everyone in the future will grieve. Dead people automatically become ‘saints’, so remember all the bullshit they pulled on you while they were alive”.
Green Man
January 19, 2021 at 5:42 pm
Wow, that is tough! I have lost both parents, both grandmothers and uncle over the last 4 years. I could never understand his grief but I share it.
Gixellia
January 19, 2021 at 5:44 pm
Just BE present. Forget your role, your position, leave that outside the door. BE a soul listening to another soul.
Sérgio Luis
January 19, 2021 at 8:32 pm
beautiful comment
CalicoCooperFan
January 19, 2021 at 5:45 pm
Loss comes in many shapes. Each of us handles loss differently. Totally agree with his ideas. I would also add that companies should give some “protection” to employees dealing with loss in terms of performance reviews. Despite the tremendous loss he was dealt with. It sounds like he recovered well. I know multiple people that went through divorces and their performance dropped due to all that they were dealing with. They were let going during downsizing. I’m confident, given time and therapy, they could be top performers again.
Ayushman Guha
January 19, 2021 at 5:49 pm
Sorry for your loss ☹️and thank you🙂
A M
January 19, 2021 at 5:57 pm
It is NOT the place of any business or Corp to interfere in employees lives.
Arjuna Valli
January 21, 2021 at 11:58 am
They already do it 8 hours per day anyway. They might also take that task since they expect me to give most of my life to them
Dark Soul
January 19, 2021 at 6:16 pm
May your daughter rest in peace 🙏❤
Falk Mathes
January 19, 2021 at 6:30 pm
viruses don’t exist. no cancer no AIDS, no SARS, no Covid, no papillom, no Alzheimer, no ADS no ADHS. All money-generating phantasie-products of pharmaindustrie and conventional medizin (= satanism);
Caro Bertrand
January 20, 2021 at 12:14 am
Diseases are a thing. Viruses are a thing. I suggest you look it up a little
Kirk Patrick
January 19, 2021 at 6:32 pm
Getting support for grievances at work is just as easy as taking a comp day. Just make sure you still meet your deadlines which assume you work 60 hours a week, always.
Chris Mcintosh
January 19, 2021 at 6:42 pm
Grief never leaves. It does heal over time but leaves a scar that never fades. I think of those who I’ve lost every day even years later. That I’ll never see them again is the hardest thing.
James Smith
January 20, 2021 at 1:57 pm
He once help me get my partner back instantly
Jeez Maleez
January 19, 2021 at 7:06 pm
I haven’t even graduated high school yet but I need to know how to help employees who are grieving.
Stay safe everyone and know that you’re not alone, you are loved ❤️
Kipper Dipper
January 19, 2021 at 7:06 pm
I haven’t even graduated high school yet but I need to know how to help employees who are grieving.
Stay safe everyone and know that you’re not alone, you are loved ❤️
PetThePizza
January 19, 2021 at 7:37 pm
If this isnt a scathing indictment of capitalism I don’t know what is. Imagine he wasn’t some executive who is most likely not alienated from his work but a waiter or some other service employee.
Treacy Jane
January 20, 2021 at 12:51 pm
Message him now for help
Treacy Jane
January 20, 2021 at 12:52 pm
+2349041640320
Treacy Jane
January 20, 2021 at 12:52 pm
He once help me get a good work in America 🇺🇸
TheSassi42
January 21, 2021 at 11:11 am
More an indictment of time contracts, that allow companies to fire employees for health reasons…
PetThePizza
January 21, 2021 at 2:33 pm
@TheSassi42 Why do you think that is exactly lol. Capitalism incentivizes companies to value profit over its employees, so they fire a sick worker to hire a healthy worker.
Smoking Chronic
January 19, 2021 at 8:35 pm
🤙
Techy Earn
January 19, 2021 at 9:02 pm
অনলাইনে আয়ের ক্ষেত্রে ফ্রিল্যান্সিং কাজ করার বিষয়টি সবচেয়ে জনপ্রিয়। বিভিন্ন ফ্রিল্যান্সারদের দক্ষতার ওপর ভিত্তি করে ফ্রিল্যান্স কাজের সুযোগ দেয় কয়েকটি ওয়েবসাইট। সেখানে অ্যাকাউন্ট খুলে দক্ষতা অনুযায়ী কাজের জন্য আবেদন করতে হয়। কাজদাতা তাদের প্রয়োজন অনুযায়ী যোগাযোগ করে ফ্রিল্যান্সারকে কাজ দেয়। বিস্তারিত জানতে Techy Earn সাবস্ক্রাইভ করে সাথে থাকুন।
True Crime Queen TV
January 19, 2021 at 9:21 pm
Thank you 🙏
Cass
January 19, 2021 at 9:31 pm
empathy training can help avoid awkwardness in the workplace <3
Perry Champagne
January 19, 2021 at 10:19 pm
Thank you for providing insight on how to deal with the loss of a family member. No parent should have to bury a child.
James Smith
January 20, 2021 at 12:47 pm
Message him for any kinds of help
James Smith
January 20, 2021 at 12:49 pm
He once help me get a good job in united kingdom
munna's kitchen
January 19, 2021 at 11:41 pm
Very much useful video. Thanks for sharing
bravojr
January 20, 2021 at 12:53 am
“Don’t be evil.”
Erika L
January 20, 2021 at 2:06 am
I’ve gotten the dog dying bit too. You don’t feel mad at them because you know they’re trying… But at the same time it’s like they want you to focus on their pain instead of hearing out yours… And you’re just so exhausted with grief you don’t have what they want to give.
Frances Bernard
January 20, 2021 at 4:13 am
Working in any kind of retail sales is very problematic when dealing with grief and pain unless being a supervisor of other employees since people are often being judged in unconscious ways by their appearance too which can affect positive or negative how they are discerning if the person trying to sell them something does believe in the product as having good value. Being a doctor would be different. When a patient is trying to heal and grieve at the same time the same ways of being supportive to them should be practiced by the doctor. When a doctor understands the human experience of deep grief that could be beneficial while on a team that is trying to help diagnose any patient who is trying to heal from illness and injury while having to grieve at the same time too. When retail sales are being done to sell medical devices you would think that after experiencing deep grief the person selling them would be able to listen with the heart to people grieving from the loss of normal hearing and that could be beneficial to the company they work for. That is if they can get through all of the education needed to do so around professors who only ever like their youngest students who have never experienced deep grief best.
R. K.
January 20, 2021 at 7:56 am
I feel you.
I am in middle management and lost my wife at the age of 42. For 1,5 years, my three daughters (13,11,3 at the time) and I watched her die, due to cancer.
It wasn’t easy to work full-time and keep the family sane.
But, in the end, we grow with our challanges.
YouAndImpact
January 20, 2021 at 8:48 am
Please stay safe
Dave G
January 20, 2021 at 11:13 am
Most companies don’t care
James Smith
January 20, 2021 at 1:58 pm
Message him now for help
James Smith
January 20, 2021 at 1:58 pm
He once help me
MegaKootz
January 20, 2021 at 11:41 am
In the United Corporations Of America, Title should read “3 ways employees can support grieving companies”.
James Smith
January 20, 2021 at 12:44 pm
Message him for help
James Smith
January 20, 2021 at 12:45 pm
+2347060878411
James Smith
January 20, 2021 at 12:46 pm
He once help me get a good work in united kingdom
Lisa Love Ministries
January 20, 2021 at 9:44 pm
Proverbs 3:5-6💕
OFF SHORE XXL
January 21, 2021 at 2:51 am
My close uncle my only friend here in SE division Portland Oregon was shot & killed for no reason this sunday morning 1/17/21 & I’m in desperate need of help. & this makes me feel like I’m not alone. I’m going through everything you went through
Ulises Merlos
January 21, 2021 at 3:56 am
que estupidez
selon flora
January 23, 2021 at 2:21 am
Grief is like the roommate you never wanted and, unfortunately, you must live with for the rest of your life.
Laurie O'Connor
January 23, 2021 at 7:22 am
Thank you so much for sharing your story & I’m so sorry for your loss. I wish the best for you & your family. I intend too share your story with management & family to instill the empethitic values you speak about, to ensure all have the skills to to ensure we are in a position to assist each other during our time of need! Thank you