Compassionate Workplaces

Compassionate organisations ensure that people who are working whilst living with a serious illness or who are grieving are listened to and supported. It also ensures that team leaders and line managers are equipped with the skills to do so.

In January we held our first Employer Compassionate Workplace round table discussion. The aim was to:

• Get employers talking about their experience of supporting colleagues either living with a terminal illness, caring for someone else with a terminal illness and those who have experienced a bereavement or loss.
• Generate ideas as to how best to support employees and the retention benefits of doing so.
• Explore how the hospice can develop a suite of training or support and resources to help our local businesses.
• Explore the appetite for Compassionate Workplace accreditation.

We had twelve local employers from our corporate community involved as we look to embark in providing the tools and training, resources and education to their workforces. Many open discussions took place where sharing experiences of supporting colleagues in the workplace with grief and bereavement had led to long-term workforce productivity, morale and retention.

With thanks to the following companies who attended:

Maidstone Borough Council, Genco Land and Properties, Oscars Acoustics, Readycrest, Bedfont Scientific, Milletts, Fileder Systems, Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB), DHA Planning, Parkfoot Garage, TPS Global, Cobb & Jones Recruitment.