Helping leaders support grieving employees
It’s a problem hiding in plain sight with a huge impact: grieving employees in the workplace.
More than half (56%) of employees would consider leaving their employer if treated badly following a bereavement.
SHRM cites that companies lose $75 billion every year in the U.S. due to grief and its effects on presentism, absenteeism and productivity as a whole.
According to a Marie Curie survey, 35% of bereaved employees reported that employers did not provide guidance on bereavement
31% of managers from those organizations reported welcoming help on how to support employees who have been bereaved and how to support their team when a colleague dies (38%).
Here’s help
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Education
How does grief affect us, and specifically, how does it affect us at work? What’s “normal” for grief? What are the myths and what is the reality? Education helps us know some of the things for which we need to prepare.
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Preparation
The worst time to prepare for a grieving employee is when one shows up. Preparation includes putting basic structures and processes in place that help support the employee while supporting the work of the team so that you’re ready to respond.
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Training
Training leaders in grief gives them a foundation on which they can create flexible responses that fit for their employee and their situation. Such responses can help boost employee retention.
Coaching for small steps or big changes
Maybe you feel like you should be able to figure this out on your own. The truth is, we all need a little help at times. Help for untangling old habits that hold us back and help for charting new courses. Someone who will hear us, challenge us, and celebrate with us when we do small things consistently or big things courageously.
As a coach, that’s what I do.
Let’s talk about what you need.
“Hiring Peggy Haymes for professional coaching of our management team was the best decision I've made all year. After each session with Peggy, my staff returned to the office energized and ready to tackle obstacles. They quickly put into practice what they had discussed and I overheard them talking among themselves about ways they had all grown. Peggy's help has been invaluable.
What has been good for each individual has been exponentially better for the team as a whole. I cannot recommend her enough and will definitely build coaching into our budget every year so we can continue to grow with her as our intelligent and compassionate guide.”
Jamie Rogers Southern, Executive Director, Bookmarks
“(Peggy) is brilliant at asking the exact question you need to answer in order to get unstuck. "
Kate Storhoff, former General Manager, Bookmarks
"With Peggy's help, I am now more deeply connected to the person I want to be and I feel more capable of living the way I want to live. Her spot-on intuition has made me feel seen."
Ashley M., Massachusetts
“Peggy became my coach at a time when I was losing myself in my ministry. She helped me reclaim my voice and find healing."
Rev. Shayna Wible
Speaking, Workshops, Seminars and Retreats
With over thirty years of experience, I’ve worked with diverse groups from California to Maine and throughout the Southeastern United States.
Bringing outstanding communication skills along with extensive experience with group process, I’m glad to talk with you about what your organization needs.
I’ve led retreats that have included topics such as self esteem, communication, using our gifts, and spiritual growth. I’m also trained in the change process and communication styles of Virginia Satir.
With particular training and experience in grief, I offer grief-focused workshops for businesses, churches, and other organizations.
I’m currently an instructor with Furman University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute leading a class on grief.
“What an incredible gift I was given this weekend!!! Thank you for the outstanding Grief Seminar! I have been blessed to be able to attend several “Grief Seminars,” but none touched me like this past weekend’s.
Maybe it was because I NEEDED to be there. I believe it was our presenter!!!
I am so thankful I was there to soak-up the experiences and wisdom of Peggy Haymes. What a joy!!!
Yesterday was such a beautiful experience that I did not want it to end. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Glenda E., Greenville, SC
In response to the evaluation question about the best part of their women’s retreat:
Enjoyed Peggy and her comfort in the role…
Everything about her
Great speaker, good interactive work
I loved the flow of Peggy and her sessions were so relevant
Liked that speaker was warm, gentle, truth-telling, good humor…
Loved Peggy! She was excellent.
Outstanding speaker
Peggy Haymes was great!
Peggy was… insightful, caring, humorous, and prepared. I cannot imagine anyone better suited.
Peggy was an excellent speaker.
Peggy was fabulous!
Peggy was inspirational
Peggy was wonderful and made it feel so personal, like a conversation versus a lecture
Speaker was wonderful and group sessions helpful.
Very personable and relatable
My favorite part was the speaker, the stories, she gave me great ideas…”