Birmingham charity ChaplaincyPlus is helping city businesses and staff approach a taboo topic that affects one in ten people within the workplace at any time.
ChaplaincyPlus, a Christian organisation which supports the Birmingham business community – irrespective of faith – is running a free ‘Understanding Bereavement In The Workplace’ workshop at PWC, Cornwall St, on November 10 from 5.30pm (for 6pm start) to 7.30pm.
Research by the National Council for Palliative Care underlines just how businesses can be affected if they do not operate a compassionate bereavement policy.
The ‘Life after death: six steps to improve support in bereavement’ report revealed a third of employees bereaved during a five-year period said they were not treated compassionately by their employer at the time.
It also found over half of the 4,000 polled would consider leaving their job if their employer did not provide proper support if someone close died.
ChaplaincyPlus says business professionals who attend the workshop, being run in partnership with St Giles Hospice, will be better prepared to support bereaved colleagues.
Steve Bavington, chaplain to Birmingham’s business district who runs ChaplaincyPlus, said: “Grief impacts on the emotional, physical, spiritual and psychological wellbeing of a person.
“Whether you are a director, line manager or colleague, supporting a staff member who is bereaved, and knowing the right things to say, is never easy.
“ChaplaincyPlus’ workshop is for anyone looking to better support colleagues during times of grief and is part of a portfolio of regular events we run for the business community.”
The workshop aims to help business professionals understand the effects of bereavement and improve communication with grieving colleagues.
It will also explain how organisations can take positive steps to becoming a compassionate employer.
“The fact one in ten staff at any given time are bereaved underlines how widespread an issue this is within the workplace, and just how important it is that businesses and individual staff members are better prepared to provide the compassion and support required to help them through such a difficult experience,” added Steve.
The workshop is just one of a range of services run by ChaplaincyPlus, a free resource for the Birmingham business community that has been operating in the Second City for 13 years.
ChaplaincyPlus also offers one-to-one confidential support for business professionals struggling to cope with day-to-day office pressures.
Faith-based but not faith-biased, ChaplaincyPlus’ appointments are available to all, even those of no faith.
ChaplaincyPlus also runs networking events and seminars.
To book a free place, or for further information about ChaplaincyPlus, contact Steve Bavington on 0121 236 9742, email steve.bavington@chaplaincyplus.org.uk or visit www.chaplaincyplus.org.uk
Press release issued by Edwin Ellis Creative Media on behalf of ChaplaincyPlus
