Four million Ontarians are caring for someone with a physical or mental health need, with approximately 2.5 million in the workforce. Forty-five percent of Ontario’s working caregivers report balancing care with work is stressful, while 74% are actively seeking to make changes to their employment as they try to cope. Combine this with the grief employees face when they lose someone close to them, and employees can be faced with insurmountable pressure and stress at any given time. What impact does this have on the individual and the workplace? What can employers do to retain and lead their teams through these challenging times?

Some of the ways to better support employees who are caregivers and/or grieving as they balance demands at work will be shared during this webinar.

Join the Ontario Caregiver Organization and Hospice Northwest for a virtual information session on Supporting Your Employees Through Caregiving and Grief.

In this session participants will:

• Gain an understanding of caregiving experiences

• Explore strategies for supporting caregiving employees

• Learn more about the impact of grief and how to best support employees

• Review resources and opportunities

When: Wednesday February 22nd 12-1pm EST
Cost: Free

Hospice Northwest – Hospice Northwest is a local Thunder Bay non-profit organization that provides volunteer-based palliative, grief, and caregiver support to the community. The mission of Hospice Northwest is to foster a compassionate community response to the needs of anyone living with, dying from, or affected by illness and disease.

“Don’t Duck the Conversation – Workplace Edition” Toolkit – The toolkit provides leaders with the resources to navigate death and bereavement in the workplace. It is designed to guide a leader’s response to bereavement in two main scenarios: when an employee dies, and when an employee experiences the death of a loved one. This information provides an excellent approach to increase confidence as a leader when confronting grief and bereavement in the workplace. There are two sections of the toolkit: resources for leaders, and resources for leaders to distribute to employees. Some of the practical tools included in the kit include checklists, email templates, resources for support, etc.

The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) – The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) exists to support Ontario’s 4 million caregivers; ordinary people who provide physical and emotional support to a family member, partner, friend or neighbour. We support caregivers by being their one point of access to information, so they have what they need to be successful in their role. OCO aims to ensure caregivers have access to the help they need – regardless of age, disease or location.

Caregivers in the Workplace Initiative – The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) has partnered with working caregivers, employers, and Ontario Mental Health Works to design resources that provide tips and strategies for finding a better balance between work and care responsibilities. OCO’s suite of tools and free information sessions can help you build a caregiver-inclusive workplace