Bereavement Training in the Workplace, Can it Help Bridge the Grief Support Gap? A Qualitative Evaluation of Employers' and Employees' Views.

Abstract

BackgroundBereavement is universal, whilst grief is a natural response to loss, it can have detrimental effects on physical and mental well-being. Bereavement support is not widely available, and workplaces could play a key role in providing consistent, equitable support.AimWe explored the views of employers and employees on bereavement training in the workplace. Methods: St Oswald's Hospice, UK, delivered bereavement training to 343 employers and employees from 105 regional and national workplaces. Purposive sampling selected 16 individuals for qualitative semi-structured interviews.FindingsFindings were organised into four themes: unique challenges faced by employees and employers after bereavement; gap in training; need for tiered, bespoke training; requirement for policy change. Bereavement training in the workplace was seen as beneficial.ConclusionsThis study addresses a crucial gap in bereavement support by exploring grief training in the workplace. Policy recommendations include: in-house and external support and paid leave as standard.