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Estrangement can affect an employee's attention and focus, disrupting attendance and output at work.

The massive surge in family estrangement creates a form of "brain drain" that hurts a company's bottom line.

Employees often bring to work estrangement issues like boundary violations, criticism, or unresolved conflict.

Every year, I notice that the mood in estrangement groups and chat rooms turns somber as Thanksgiving approaches. Many members post dark and depressed thoughts, expressing their raw emotions to strangers online. Their grieving is palpable.

Many members admit that they begin to suffer as the weather changes, and then as the holidays approach. It’s the time of year when the hurts of estrangement reach an emotional crescendo.

While I was researching my book, Brothers, Sisters, Strangers, some estranged siblings made these comments:

~ From October to December, I feel depressed and feelings of low self-worth blindside me and follow me everywhere. The holidays feed my fantasy of a loving family. ~ I dream about her and wonder if she is OK. I feel terrible about myself and I break out in hives when I talk about the estrangement. ~ I have had streaks where I cry several times a day and I wake up at night with my pillow wet. When depression overwhelms me, I don’t leave home because I’m afraid of crying in public.

~ From October to December, I feel depressed and feelings of low self-worth blindside me and follow me everywhere. The holidays feed my fantasy of a loving family.

~ I dream about her and wonder if she is OK. I feel terrible about myself and I break out in hives when I talk about the estrangement.

~ I have had streaks where I cry several times a day and I wake up at night with my pillow wet. When depression overwhelms me, I don’t leave home because I’m afraid of crying in public.

Deep grief, rumination, and sleep deprivation inevitably show up at work—especially at this time of year. Robyn D. Shulman's recent article in Inc Magazine, "38........

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