Description

The Covid 19 pandemic has had a profound effect on everyone. This is especially true for those who are grieving, with restrictions on social distancing and funeral attendance, adding extra layers to what is already a challenging experience. Covid 19 has also impacted hugely on our work lives and while our workplaces can play a key role in helping people cope, how do we provide support to our colleagues and staff who are grieving?

The Irish Hospice Foundation is hosting a free lunchtime webinar on Grief at Work | Covid 19 – Supporting colleagues and staff who are grieving on Tue June 30th from 1pm – 2pm.

This webinar will explore the following areas:

• The impact of Covid 19 on grieving in the workplace.

• Tips for supporting colleagues and staff who are grieving (What helps/doesn’t help)

• Staff Wellbeing and Grief - Case study: The experience of Technology University Dublin

Who is this webinar for:

This webinar is suitable for anyone who is interested in finding out how grief can impact on people and how to provide support in the workplace to colleagues and staff who are grieving.

Background reading:

The following article is a helpful introduction to some of the themes to be covered in this webinar:

What I’ve learned about coping with grief at work – Arianna O’Dell

https://www.fastcompany.com/3064909/what-ive-learned-about-coping-with-grief-at-work (Copy and paste into your browser to activate the link)

Speakers

• Orla Keegan – Head of Education, Irish Hospice Foundation – (MC)

• Breffni Mc Guinness – Bereavement Training, Irish Hospice Foundation

• Linda Murray – Staff Development - Technology University Dublin

How to register and access this live online event:

• You can register for this event through Eventbrite.

• When you register, you will receive an email to say that you have registered for the online event. The zoom link will be emailed to you before the event. You use this link to access the online event. The link will be open from 12.50pm onwards and the event will start at 1.00pm.

• You can access the event on a computer or your mobile phone.

• Please note that you will not be able to see or hear other attendees or they will not be able to see or hear you during the event. You will only be able to see and hear the speakers at the event.

Questions and Answers

Towards the end of the webinar a selection of submitted questions will be put to the speakers, who will respond to these.

Submitting Questions

There are 2 ways to submit questions:

1. Before the webinar

You can send in questions before the webinar by email to breffni.mcguinness@hospicefoundation.ie. Please use the following in the subject line “Grief at Work Webinar Question” . The closing date for questions is 3pm on Mon 29th June.

2. During the webinar:

You can use the “Q&A” function on Zoom to submit questions during the webinar.

Please note: We will try to answer as many questions as possible within the limits of the webinar and we will point towards resources for those that we cannot get to.

• Age Action have published easy to use guidelines on how you use zoom on your smartphone or computer. You can access them here: https://www.ageaction.ie/sites/default/files/15327_ageaction_zoom_v2_final.pdf (Copy and paste into your browser to activate the link)

Event information:

Date: June 30th

Time: 1.00pm - 2pm

Access: An online link provided through Zoom

Please offer to help friends and family who have difficultly using technology and would like to register and access this event. Attendees do not need to have an email account but will need access to one to receive the zoom link. See Age Action for their easy to use guidelines on how you use zoom on your smartphone of computer.

Please contact Maura bereavementsupport@hospicefoundation.ie if you have any questions about the event.

More information about Orla Keegan (to follow)

More information about Breffni McGuinness

is the Bereavement Training Manager with the Irish Hospice Foundation. He has developed the Grief at Work Programme to support employees and organisations around grief and bereavement. This involves research, education, training and consultancy to workplaces and employers on how to provide effective support to employees who are grieving. He has worked with unions and employer organisations to develop resources on bereavement policies, suicide, and supports for staff who are grieving. With a background in pastoral care and psychotherapy, he is passionate about raising awareness of the impact of grief on employees, and enabling colleagues, managers and organisations to provide effective support to those who are grieving.

More information about Linda Murray

Linda Murray is a member of the Staff Development Team in the Technological University, Dublin where she has responsibility for implementing the TU Dublin Wellbeing & Health Promotion Programme, providing a holistic and wide-ranging variety of initiatives to meet the needs of a diverse range of employees in the university.

With a background in Human Resources & Psychology, and previously having spent time working with non- profit organisations, Linda developed a passion for workplace wellness. She has a particular interest in employee mental health and engagement with supports. She is a qualified Workplace Wellness & Health Promotion practitioner with a drive to embed a culture of compassion, kindness and inclusiveness at organisational level.

More information about the Irish Hospice Foundation:

We, the Irish Hospice Foundation, are a national charity dedicated to all matters relating to dying, death and bereavement in Ireland. We work to ensure that no-one will face death or bereavement without the care and support they need regardless of the place of death.

For the past thirty years, we have been working in partnership with others to make excellence in bereavement care – including in workplaces, a national priority. We do this through many of our activities such as, awareness-raising, training and education, providing bereavement information and working collaboratively with many organisations, both state and voluntary, to enhance bereavement care provision in Ireland.

Please see our website for resources, which include ways to support yourself when you are grieving, ways to help others and our new Care and Inform hub (www.hospicefoundation.ie). The Irish Hospice Foundation is supporting the development of a national bereavement response, including a national telephone helpline in partnership with the HSE. The helpline will provide a first response to those affected by bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond if needed. This helpline number is 1800 80 70 77