Guiding Paths: A Grief, Loss and Stress Support Program for the Workplace

This interactive business program is designed to fulfill the support needs of managers and human resource professionals. It provides guidance and assistance during times of transition in the workplace caused by grief, loss and stress.

The program helps businesses implement employee-friendly policies and supportive actions for those who are working caregivers, who may be grieving a personal loss, or who are undergoing stress as a result of a critical incident in the workplace.

Expressing sadness, pain or negative feelings in the workplace is seen as inappropriate and off-limits in our society. However, many people spend upwards of half of their waking hours at work and it's impractical to think their emotions won't spill over into the work environment.

By understanding the basis of an employee's transition, business productivity levels can be a cost savings for the company - less money lost due to inefficiency and a lower probability of compromised employee morale.

Employees who are dealing with grief, loss or stress can

• Become less efficient
• Take more time off
• Concentrate less
• Cause more accidents

The Grief Recovery Institute reports that approximately 15 million employees are grieving each day in the United States. Because of this, almost $75 billion a year is lost by businesses. Most of these losses are due to:

• Tardiness
• Absenteeism
• Decreased productivity
• Increased accidents
• Increased turnover
• Increased drug and alcohol use
• Lower morale
• Disruptive communication

Understanding and supporting employees during transitional times can help manage these losses, provide a better working environment and give companies a competitive edge.

Program Highlights
The Guiding Paths program provides businesses with effective services that are tailored to meet particular needs, and a structured plan that will ensure that the services flow smoothly when they are needed.

The following professional services are provided to designated human resource professionals, managers, and supervisors:

• An instructional, interactive presentation to assist and implement Guiding Paths
• A Guiding Paths Manual for guidance and reference
• An instructional presentation on "When the Winds of Change Blow," designed to provide an understanding of the grief process

Guiding Paths Supportive Literature
For use when:

• Employees are working caregivers
• An employee has experienced a personal loss
• An employee faces serious life-threatening illness and has to leave work
• An employee dies
• There is a serious or traumatic incident in the workplace

Sample Policies and Procedures
To include:

• Suggested supportive benefits and policies
• Tips to maximize the utility of existing benefits and policies
• Model care giving and family support fact sheet
• Assessment checklist

Remembrance Program
A Guiding Paths representative will be available to assist with organizing and facilitating a non-sectarian "Celebrating the Life" remembrance program for the entire staff when an employee dies. For employees who experience the death of an immediate family member, a Guiding Paths Memory Gift will be provided for them.

Counseling
When there is grief or trauma in the workplace, the employees who are directly affected will be provided with up to 12 individual Guiding Paths Counseling Sessions by a licensed counselor who specializes in grief, loss and trauma. Up to five Guiding Paths Support Groups will be conducted per incident for select employees who are most affected. If a death occurs on site, a Guiding Paths Guidance and Support System will be offered to senior management.

Education and Preparation
Pre-crisis education and preparation for handling a critical incident in the workplace will be provided. If a critical incident occurs, trained facilitators will provide:

• Large group Guiding Paths Crisis Management Briefing
• Individual crisis intervention or defusing within 24 hours
• Guiding Paths Debriefing after the critical incident for those select people who are most affected
• Assistance with follow-up and referral

The Guiding Paths program is offered through Pathways of Hope Counseling.