KITCHENER – Bereaved Families of Ontario – Midwestern Region (BFO-MR) is hoping to make workplaces more empathetic to the grief experiences of employees through the launch of a new education program called Grief at Work.
“Employers often expect staff to return to work after their bereavement leave at previous productivity and efficiency levels without recognizing they may still be struggling with their grief,” executive director Jaime Bickerton said.
“Co-workers may be uncomfortable acknowledging the death for fear of upsetting the person who is grieving, which further intensifies feelings of isolation.
“Both can negatively impact employee wellbeing and a business’ bottom line.”
The Grief at Work Program is designed to support businesses and organizations to gain a better understanding of grief, take away tangible tools and strategies they can apply in the workplace, and learn how to create a culture of compassion that promotes empathy and understanding.
“Talking about grief is tough. Add the complexities of relationship dynamics and teams working remotely and those conversations are even more difficult to navigate,” said Bickerton.
BFO-MR’s Grief at Work program features education sessions that can be presented virtually or in person.
Businesses can purchase a one-off session or choose from a variety of package options.
Packages are fully customizable to the business’ needs. Sessions allow employers to:
– understand how grief shows up in the workplace and what accommodations can be put in place for employees;
– consider the potential impact of reduced productivity and efficiency;
– give their teams tools to support co-workers when they return after a death;
– learn how to address isolation in grief and increase connectivity, particularly when teams are working from home; and
– gain knowledge of additional resources and supports in community.
“Being proactive with this type of professional development means businesses are ready to respond with empathy and compassion when a death occurs, rather than react with uncertainty and discomfort,” said Bickerton.
