2025 Research Report by
The
Grief Tax
The Grief Tax impacts members of each generation differently. What will you owe?
The Gen Z
Grief Tax
ITEM
Too anxious to ask for time off, too heartbroken to work
Posting a memorial on IG because no one showed up IRL
Grieving the grandparent who raised you, still expected to meet the deadline
Not knowing what EAP even stands for
Overwhelmed by grief and the group chat
ITEM COUNT:
TOTAL DUE:
TOO MANY
THE GRIEF TAX
Every item on this fake receipt is backed by real data.
 Unfortunately.
After a loss, families face an onslaught of tasks and pressures, on top of navigating one of the deepest emotional upheavals of their lives.
Introducing
The Grief Tax.
The financial, logistical, and emotional toll that grief takes on people moving through life’s most challenging moments. This is the hidden cost of loss that few talk about or know how to prepare for effectively.
0
%
used personal funds to pay for post-loss costs, even if their loved ones had plans in place.
0
%
experienced panic attacks.
100
business days is the average duration of time those navigating loss experienced impacts at work.
20 Months
20 Months
is the average length of time executors take to settle
affairs.

92% of people reported experiencing at least one health impact.

These were the 9 most common symptoms ->

Confusion
Anxiety
Headaches
Weight Changes
Sleep Disruption
Memory Issues
Panic Attacks
Irritability
Frequent Illness
Insights from David Kessler, Chief Empathy Officer, and Ron Gura, Co-Founder & CEO of Empathy
See how The Grief Tax adds up.

Bring Empathy to your workplace

Empathy is an employee benefit built to help employees deal with the emotional and logistical challenges loss can bring. With tools and resources that go beyond bereavement leave, Empathy Loss Support offers dedicated care for life's most challenging moments.

empathy's research

Cost of Dying 2024

Cost of Dying 2024

This report added a workplace lens, showing how employers approach bereavement and highlighting the gaps in support.