Earlier this month, we released Empathy’s 2025 research report, which highlights a truth that’s too often overlooked: while the emotional toll of loss is well acknowledged, far less attention is paid to its true cost—not just in dollars, but in time, energy, opportunity, and overall wellbeing. This is what we call the Grief Tax—it’s the hidden cost of loss that few talk about or know how to prepare for effectively.
The weight of the Grief Tax is not distributed evenly. Empathy’s 2025 survey of bereaved people across the US reveals distinct patterns:
Executors—usually a close family member—take on an additional workload for almost two years settling affairs, equivalent to the time it takes to earn an Associate's degree, often delayed by inadequate estate planning. Only 24% of adults reported having a will; and, in our research, over two-thirds of executors could not access essential documents like tax records. Roughly 60% of our survey respondents were executors.
Grief persists long after employees return to work, with workplace impacts lasting an average of 17 months—nearly six business quarters. And while many companies have expanded bereavement leave, most workplace support systems still fall short of addressing the acute, long-term challenges employees face after a loss.
Millennials and members of Gen X (The Sandwich Generation) pay the heaviest Grief Tax, balancing estate responsibilities and financial setbacks on top of career pressures and caregiving for their families.
54% used personal funds to pay for post-loss costs, even if their loved ones had plans in place. 15% borrowed money from a bank or took out a loan to cover costs.
Key Findings: The Grief Tax Adds Up
Empathy’s 2025 survey data reveals:
20 months is the average length of time executors take to settle affairs—that’s nearly two years, or as long as it takes to earn an Associate’s degree.
66% experienced panic attacks. Executors were hit hardest, showing the highest levels of anxiety and emotional distress in the entire survey. More than 70% of executors were also the primary caregiver for the person who died.
67% of the workforce are Millennials and Gen X ers (the Sandwich Generation). They face the steepest Grief Tax as the stress of loss stacks on top of caregiving demands, work responsibilities, and financial strain.
18 months, that’s 375 business days or nearly six full quarters, is the average length of time people navigating loss experienced reduced productivity and lasting professional setbacks at work.
54% used personal funds to pay for post-loss costs, even if their loved ones had plans in place. 15% borrowed money from a bank or took out a loan to cover costs.
Building a Grief-Literate Future
The Grief Tax highlights a systemic gap in our culture, where people are left to navigate loss without adequate support or guidance. Empathy is leading the work to address this gap, transforming the way we plan for and move through life's toughest experiences.
This report exposes the true cost of loss and calls for a long-overdue shift in how we support people who are navigating life’s most challenging moments.
Read the full report
Catch up on the full report here.