A new collection of resources has been launched this week to make workplaces better for people who are grieving.
The new Bereavement Charter Mark will recognise employers who support bereaved staff. It is accompanied by a Bereavement-Friendly Workplaces Toolkit providing tips and advice on how employers, managers and colleagues can support people who are grieving.
“Losing someone we love is the hardest thing many of us have to go through, and the pandemic has made life even more difficult for people who are bereaved.” Says Rebecca Patterson, Director of Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief. “No-one can take away someone’s grief, but employers have the power to make someone’s life a little better or a lot worse.”
To gain the new Bereavement Charter Mark, employers must agree to take some simple steps towards creating a supportive environment for people who are bereaved, for example educating staff about bereavement, or creating a local bereavement policy.
“I was worried about how I would cope. “ says Clare, who was apprehensive about returning to work after her Mum died. “My line manager was just brilliant. It was a case of ‘do what you can, when you can, if you can’. I can’t begin to tell you the relief this gave me. But other people at work said and did some really insensitive things that made me feel terrible. Hopefully these new resources will help other people facing the same situation as me.”
The new resources were produced by the Scottish Bereavement Charter Group, and Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief, a charity initiative working to make Scotland a place where everyone knows how to help when someone is caring, dying or grieving. The resources include:
From Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief and the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care:
Scottish Bereavement-Friendly Workplaces Toolkit
This online toolkit is designed for people who want to make their workplace a supportive place for people who have been bereaved. It includes information for colleagues, managers and employers, as well as for people returning to work after a bereavement themselves. The toolkit includes links to training, resources, films, good practice guidance and bereavemetn support organisations.
What to do when a colleague has been bereaved
This leaflet gives some tips on the kind of things that a colleague can say or do to show support when someone is bereaved.
This checklist shows the various ways that an employer can create a supportive environment for bereaved staff.
From the Scottish Bereavement Charter Group:
Bereavement Charter Mark for Employers in Scotland
An employer can demonstrate that their organisation is proactively working to support bereaved employees by displaying the Bereavement Charter Mark on their website or within their buildings. Having the charter mark on your website demonstrates that you are working to make your community a place where people who are bereaved feel supported by the people around them.
Employer's Guide to the Bereavement Charter
The Guide introduces the Bereavement Charter for Adults and Children in Scotland, and explains how employers can demonstrate their support for the Charter.
This film introduces the Bereavement Charter for Adults and Children in Scotland, and suggests ways that everyone can help create a Scotland where people are supported when they're grieving.
“Becoming a bereavement-friendly workplace doesn’t have to be expensive - a lot of it is about flexibility, sensitivity and good communication.” Says Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive of Scottish Care.
“The Charter Mark and Toolkit help employers to see how simple actions by colleagues and managers can make a big difference to people who are living with grief.”
The new resources have been tested out in Inverclyde, with positive results.
“At CVS Inverclyde we’ve been working towards achieving the new Bereavement Charter Mark, and it has been an incredibly positive experience for all involved.’ says Alison Bunce of Inverclyde Cares. “It has been a great opportunity to bring colleagues together and talk through what we want to do to support each other through the difficult times that can come with bereavement.”
The new resources are being launched as part of ‘Demystifying Death Week’ which runs from 2-6 May. Demystifying Death Week is about shining a light on death, dying and bereavement in Scotland.
“People usually want to do the right thing when someone they know is caring, dying or grieving. But often they can feel awkward offering help, or worry about making things worse.” says Mark Hazelwood, Chief Executive of the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care.
“Demystifying death week, and the new Bereavement Charter Mark and Workplaces Toolkit, are about giving people knowledge, skills and opportunities to plan and support each other through death, dying, loss and care.”
The new resources can be accessed at: https://www.goodlifedeathgrief.org.uk/content/bereavement_friendly_workplaces/
RSS
