Navigating Grief, Loss, and Justice in the Workplace and Beyond

The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is deeply personal for many Native families. The names we honor are those of sisters, daughters, sons, aunties, or cousins. This grief is felt across generations and carried silently into workplaces, classrooms, and everyday spaces.

At Samish Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation (STVR), we acknowledge that the MMIP crisis is not only a call for justice—it is also a source of deep grief. And that grief doesn’t disappear when we clock in.

This week, we recognize MMIP and offer guidance for navigating grief and loss in the workplace, while continuing to support our clients in healing, advocacy, and personal growth.

🔺 MMIP: A National Crisis with Personal Impact

• Indigenous women face some of the highest rates of violence and homicide in the U.S.
• Many families struggle with lack of law enforcement response, unclear jurisdiction, or dismissed cases.
• The emotional toll of unresolved loss can impact mental health, safety, and job performance.

For clients navigating these realities, even getting to work—let alone staying focused—can feel like an impossible task.

🧠 Grief Doesn’t Stay at Home

Grief can affect your:

• Focus and concentration
• Energy and sleep
• Patience and emotional regulation
• Sense of safety or motivation
• Ability to connect with others or complete tasks

Whether you’re actively mourning a loved one or carrying generational trauma from loss in your community, you deserve space and compassion—even at work.

💼 Navigating Grief and Loss in the Workplace

1. Know It’s Okay to Step Back

You may need to reduce your hours, take a day off, or ask for a flexible schedule. These are valid needs—not weaknesses.

2. Communicate With Your Employer (If You Feel Safe To)

If possible, let your supervisor know you’re grieving and may need temporary support. TVR can help you request accommodations such as:

• Modified workloads
• Breaks throughout the day
• Temporary schedule changes

3. Use Your Support Network

Lean on coworkers you trust, family members, spiritual leaders, or a counselor. You don’t have to carry everything alone.

4. Create Small Rituals at Work

Take a moment before your shift to ground yourself. Wear something that reminds you of your loved one. Write or pray on your break. Carry their memory with you in a way that brings strength.

5. Honor Your Limits

You’re allowed to not be okay. And you’re allowed to ask for space to heal—whether the loss happened last week or many years ago.

🤝 How STVR Supports Healing and Justice

We offer:
✅ Help requesting workplace accommodations related to grief or trauma
✅ Referrals to culturally grounded mental health or spiritual support
✅ Safety planning and support for families navigating active MMIP cases
✅ Advocacy if grief or trauma is impacting your job, training, or school
✅ Space to talk about how grief affects your goals—and how to move forward when you’re ready

🕯 We Carry Their Light into the Future

This month—and every month—we honor the lives stolen and the families still searching. We also honor those who carry grief into their workday and still find the strength to show up.

Your pain is valid. Your voice matters. And you are not alone.

📞 Contact your TVR counselor to talk about grief, workplace accommodations, or emotional support.
We’ll walk beside you at your pace, with compassion and respect.