What if the way we handle grief at work is silently draining productivity, trust, and billions of dollars—and it’s easier to fix than you think?

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Suzanne Jabour, a grief educator, speaker, and coach who has turned her personal experience of loss into a powerful mission to reshape how individuals and organizations approach grief. After losing her 22-year-old son Ben in 2020, Suzanne embarked on a journey of healing that led her to support others navigating similar challenges. Through workshops, writing, and public speaking, she helps businesses develop compassionate grief policies and fosters understanding in both personal and professional spaces. Suzanne also creates opportunities for connection through her grief cafés, where people can share their stories in a supportive and judgment-free environment.

Throughout this episode, Suzanne delves deeper into her journey from grieving mother to grief educator, offering valuable insights into the emotional and physical toll grief takes. She emphasizes the importance of addressing societal discomfort around grief and advocates for meaningful, thoughtful support, both in personal interactions and workplace settings. Suzanne’s commitment to change is evident in her call for organizations to implement structured protocols that empower employees to navigate their grief with dignity. Her dedication to creating spaces for healing and connection, like her grief cafés, serves as a reminder of the strength found in shared experiences and open conversations.

Tune in to episode 304 of Grief and Happiness as Suzanne Jabour shares her journey from grieving mother to grief educator, exploring loss, grief cafés, and the challenges of workplace grief.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The complexity of grief and society’s discomfort (1:54)
• The importance of talking about grief (4:49)
• Avoidance vs. connection: How to support grievers (7:46)
• Practical Steps to Improve Workplace Support (13:10)
• The power of Grief Cafés (23:44)
• Common Missteps in Addressing Grief
• Final thoughts and resources for grievers (30:47)

Connect with Suzanne Jabour:

• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Let’s Connect:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Pinterest

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Emily Thiroux Threatt Podcast Host, Facilitator, Author

Having gone through the experience of the deaths of so many loved ones, I have learned to face life with love, optimism, and joy.

I have kept journals and written to express myself most of my life which led me to a career of teaching writing and writing books. I naturally turned to writing to help deal with my grief, then I discovered I could use writing to help friends deal with grief, too.

In contemplating how I could best help the grieving people I was working with, my Ignite moment came when realized the importance of helping people understand the importance of happiness and how they could grieve and be happy at the same time.

To share my message, I host the Grief and Happiness podcast, I wrote the book Loving and Living Your Way Though Grief, I facilitate weekly meetings of the Grief and Happiness Alliance, I founded the Grief and Happiness nonprofit foundation, I publish a weekly newsletter and blog, and my new book, The Grief and Happiness Handbook is coming out soon.