“I Don’t Know What to Say”……Grief and Loss at Work

Most of us hear ‘grief’ and think bereavement, but grief results from many other experiences of loss. Damaged personal or work-based relationships, divorce, ill health or bereavement are just some of over 40 different losses that may mean a work colleague is grieving.

Now we have the pandemic, causing grief and loss in so many ways, including loss of a way of life, loss of a job or business and loss of security. For some people, their grief already stretches back many years. Compounded now by the effects of the pandemic, the cumulative effect is a heavy burden to carry.

As HR and People Development Professionals, we are hard-wired to ‘help’. But it’s not easy is it? Even just knowing what to say can be a challenge.

It’s not just about others…. in the middle of it all is YOU. Just now, many of us are providing support while managing the fall-out from our own losses. What can we do to help our own wellbeing during and after loss, as well as be there for the individuals, teams and organizations we support?

Join us at this online workshop, to explore how we can become more comfortable with grief, understand the myths that surround grief and loss and take away practical suggestions of how to be of support to those who are grieving.

Our approach to online events

The CIPD South Yorkshire Branch is known for its warm and friendly meetings. This one will be informal and interactive with opportunities for networking with other members during the session.

Speaker Bio - Ali Morris

Ali Morris is a Positive Psychology Practitioner and Strengths Coach. She is also an Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist.

Grief might seem rather odd to see alongside positive psychology. Let’s face it, there’s nothing very jolly about grief is there? *

In our new Covid world, wellbeing and resilience are the buzzwords of the moment, subjects that have been the very essence of positive psychology for over 20 years. But they can be so hard to achieve when underlying emotional pain, resulting from grief and loss, has not been addressed and resolved. So, instead of true resilience, we ‘put on a brave face’, try to ‘be strong’, or ‘just get on with it’, while the ongoing, often unrealised grief has profound effects on our ability to function and flourish.

Ali’s unique combination of interests and experience, firmly grounded in the world of organisations and people development, provides valuable insight into the impact that both positive psychology and grief can have on our professional and personal lives.

Ali works with individuals, teams and organizations, through one-to-one and group programmes, workshop sessions, coaching and talks. Insights and ideas are transformed into action, leading to enhanced levels of wellbeing and goal achievement.

* If the asterisk above has sparked your curiosity, ask Ali about it at the CIPD South Yorkshire event

You will receive Zoom details in your Eventbrite confirmation email.

CIPD Coronavirus Support - www.cipd.co.uk/news-views/coronavirus