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

Bibliographic Data

ID13627965
AuthorsFelicity Dewhurst (0000-0001-9648-5329, St Oswald’s Hospice, corresponding author), Royce Turner (Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute), Laura Barrett (0000-0001-8721-8886, St Oswald’s Hospice), Laura M Barrett (St. Oswald's Hospital), Elizabeth Westhead (0009-0003-3233-5155, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute, Centre for Aging and Vitality), D Wakefield (0000-0002-6811-1255, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute, Centre for Aging and Vitality), Barbara Hanratty (0000-0002-3122-7190, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute, Centre for Aging and Vitality)
Year2025
Pages302228251345033-302228251345033
Publication date2025-05-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00302228251345033
PMID40437809
OpenAlexW4410868442
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited19

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

Bespoke · Bridge (graph theory · Business · Grief · Management · Medical education · Nonprobability sampling · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Sociology · Training (meteorology · Training and Development · Applied Psychology · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Nursing · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Psychology

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