November 20, 2023

Ep. 430 Workplace Bereavement: Education for Employers with Mekel Harris PhD and Janet Gwilliam-Wright

58 minutes

Learn about a project to train organizations and employers to provide better support for their employees who are grieving.

This week I’m hosting two guests who have teamed up to address the issue of bereavement in the workplace. Mekel Harris PhD is a licensed psychologist who specializes in coping and adjustment to acute and chronic illness, grief and loss, and health-related trauma. She is the author of the memoir Relaxing Into the Pain: My Journey Into Grief & Beyond along with The Grief Anatomy Toolkit and Re-Imagining Life After Loss interactive course. Janet Gwilliam-Wright is a leader in the grief and loss space who founded the Motherlove Project, a global platform for motherless daughters. Janet has 15 years experience leading large organizational change and working on complex issues. Together Mekel and Janet have created Bloomwell to teach organizations and managers to support employees navigating grief and loss. Learn more at the following websites:

growwithbloomwell.com

mekelharrisphd.com

motherloveproject.com

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This episode includes:

How Mekel and Janet came to focus on grief in their professional lives

How grief is not adequately addressed in the workplace in our society

The struggle workers face when being required to return to work shortly after the death of a loved one

How employers can create a better culture in the workplace

What to do to help a grieving co-worker

Bloomwell’s framework for managing grief in the workplace

The training offered by Bloomwell including the physical, emotional, and spiritual impact of grief

Why education alone doesn’t lead to behavioral change

The importance of creating a sense of belonging for people who are grieving

How workplace culture around grief starts at the top

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By Karen Wyatt MD

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