Create a more compassionate workplace: become a compassionate employer

Helping you to better support your employees who are affected by terminal illness, caring and bereavement

When experiencing terminal illness, caring or bereavement, there are a whole mix of feelings: shock, loneliness, and confusion about what to do next and where to go for help.

Your employees are having to make decisions about work whilst they are facing huge emotional stress and uncertainty.

Society’s response often makes it even harder to cope. Many people find death and dying tough to talk about, and don’t know how to help their colleagues.

1 in 3 working-age people in the UK have a long-term health condition

Over 1 millionpeople in the UK say they are supporting or caring for family members who have a terminal illness

Terminal illness, caring, and bereavement will affect your employees

72%of the public believe that people in Britain are uncomfortable discussing dying, death and bereavement

Most people will be affected by bereavement during their lifetime

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As employers we invest in our people and benefit from their expertise and experience. But if they struggle to work effectively, then your investment and their experience is at risk of being lost, especially if they are forced to give up work. The loss of skilled staff affects both employers and the wider economy significantly.

There is an urgent need to provide better support for employees who are affected by serious illness, caring responsibilities and bereavement.

If you aren’t there for your employees, they won’t be there for you

£2.9 billionis the estimated cost to the government of carers leaving work

Nearly half a million people have given up work over the past two years as a result of caring responsibilities

56%would consider leaving their job if their employer did not provide proper support if someone close to them died

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Making a difference as a Compassionate Employer

Your employees will:• Know where to go – to get the best help, information and

support.• Feel more supported – having guidance at work will help

practically, mentally and emotionally. • Become comfortable talking – creating a compassionate

culture of conversation will help ease worries and stress at one of the most difficult times in someone’s life.

• Gain confidence – your HR team and line managers will gain valuable skills and feel empowered to better support their teams.

As an employer you will:• Retain and recruit valued staff – by supporting your

employees as a compassionate employer you are more likely to retain good people and avoid high additional costs to replace them.

• Build a loyal workforce – if you do the right thing as an employer, your employees will notice. They are less likely to leave and more likely to promote your organisation as a great place to work.

• Lead the way – the way we value and support our colleagues is a reflection of the type of employer we are. Lead the way as a compassionate employer.

“I really believe that everyone should feel supported at work, and having good bereavement policies and guidance for carers is really important. At one of the hardest times in our lives, we need our employers to care about us – not just as workers, but as human beings.”

Jason, HR Consultant

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Becoming a compassionate employer

Employee resourcesYou will receive a welcome pack with a selection of our practical guides – for employees, line managers and HR teams (15 copies in total).

Assessment and recommendationsYou will receive a self-assessment tool, feedback meeting and recommendations, and be recognised as a compassionate employer.

Online members’ areaOur online members’ area contains digital copies of our resources, advice and topical content to help you become a compassionate employer. You will have unlimited access for all of your employees.

Account managerYou will have access to a dedicated account manager to support you.

Networking opportunitiesYou will be invited to all networking events with the wider compassionate employers community.

WorkshopsTwo training workshops are included as part of the programme. One workshop, ‘Compassionate employers in your workplace’, is included, and the second can be chosen from the below:

• ‘Understanding bereavement’• ‘Handling difficult conversations’ • ‘Supporting carers and people with terminal illnesses in

the workplace’.

More information on the workshops can be found on pages 10 and 11 of this booklet.

What does it costProgramme membership: £5,000 +VAT

Additional packages of printed guides and workshops are available at an extra cost.

By joining our Compassionate Employers programme you will benefit from:

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Our workshops

Compassionate employers in your workplace (included)This workshop is an introduction to becoming a compassionate employer aimed at HR staff. It will help you explore the programme in more detail, and understand how we can help practically to better support employees who are affected by terminal illness, caring and bereavement. (Up to 16 participants)

Understanding bereavement (optional)This informative and interactive workshop for line managers and HR staff focuses on increasing your employees’ understanding of bereavement, its impact on someone and their workplace, and how best to support them at work. (Up to 16 participants)

Handling difficult conversations (optional)This is a very practical workshop for line managers and frontline staff in customer-facing roles. Using activities and exercises, this course will focus on communication and listening skills, and how to respond to conversations about terminal illness, caring and bereavement in the workplace. (Up to 16 participants)

Supporting carers and people with terminal illnesses (optional)This workshop focuses on enabling your employees (line managers and HR staff) to effectively and compassionately support colleagues who have a terminal illness or who are caring for someone with a terminal condition. (Up to 16 participants)

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Get in touch Speak to us today about how you can become a compassionate employer.

compassionateemployers@hospiceuk.org

www.hospiceuk.org/compassionate-employers

You can also follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/hospice-uk

©Hospice UK 2019. Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England and Wales No. 2751549, Charity registered in England and Wales No. 1014851 and in Scotland No. SC041112. VAT No 731 304476

www.hospiceuk.org 020 7520 8200

@hospiceuk /hospiceuk Hospice UK, Hospice House, 34 – 44 Britannia Street, London WC1X 9JG