“I was very close to my grandmother, who lived with us. The weeks before her passing were particularly stressful. The day after her funeral I was back at work. My boss came to see me and said, ‘I heard that the Abbott Project isn’t done yet.’ He didn’t say, ‘I’m sorry that your grandmother died,’ nor ‘Is there anything I can do to help you at work.’ His insensitivity to my personal loss and temporary work backlog was one of the reasons why I ultimately left that job.”
Freud coined the term “grief work” and said, “People spend as much energy in one day of grief as if they dug ditches for an eight-hour shift.” Unsupported grief can create emotional and physical health issues; can result in absenteeism or inability to concentrate at work; can cause drug and/or alcohol abuse to occur; can be detrimental to relationships at home and at work; can negatively affect work performance; can result in accidents; and can sometimes even result in suicide.
Bereavement support is essential in today’s workplace. According to Therese Schoeneck, founder and executive director for Hope for Bereaved, at any given time up to 25% of your employees are grieving. Bereavement needs are varied and can include death of a loved one, separation, divorce, major illness, or other traumatic family events. In addition to individual issues, today’s workplace events such as downsizings can impact the “surviving” employees who are affected as well.
Hope For Bereaved, Inc., founded in 1978, is an independent, not-for-profit community organization dedicated to providing bereavement support services at no cost to the bereaved. In the past year over 10,000 people were served by this organization. They provide individual support counseling, support groups, and programs and materials for both individuals and businesses.
“When an employee experiences a loss, it is important for their employer and their co-workers to understand their needs and be prepared to reach out in ways that will be helpful and appropriate,” says Schoeneck. “Employers, with awareness and planning, can create a work environment that allows an employee to grieve, and, at the same time, maintain their productivity. This support is frequently reciprocated with the employee’s appreciation as well as increased loyalty.”
People, however well-meaning, sometimes act in ways that are counter-productive to the real needs of the grieving person. To assist employers in ways that they can be better informed about grief in the workplace, and offer some concrete help to their employees when needed, Hope for Bereaved is sponsoring an upcoming half-day workshop. It is designed for managers, employee assistance and human resource professionals, and small business owners.
“How to Help When Grief is in the Workplace” will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 10th at Center of Hope, 4500 Onondaga Blvd, Syracuse.
An early bird registration fee of $85 is offered until June 4th, after which the fee will be $100 . The fee covers the program and all materials, including a participant workbook and desktop reference, refreshment break, and one year subscription to The Hope Line newsletter.
To register for the workshop or for more information, contact Hope for Bereaved at 315-475-9675 or visit their website at www.hopeforbereaved.com
