Compassionate Workplace Campaign​

Creating a more compassionate workplace environment is everyone’s business.

The Compassionate Workplace Campaign is designed to help companies improve their ‘care culture’ by proactively supporting working caregivers and those among us who are grieving.

People are at the core of Canadian workplaces and with our aging population it is more important than ever to ensure employers and employees are equipped with the information and resources they need to support colleagues during difficult times.

Together, we can make a difference.

The need for compassion in the workplace is greater than ever

Demographic shifts are placing more pressure on those who struggle to balance work and caregiving responsibilities. The Compassionate Workplace Campaign provides practical turnkey activities, tools, and resources to further engage your employees around these issues, and build skills for engaging in difficult and supportive conversations in the workplace. The goal is to drive positive change in your workplace for your most valuable resource: your people.

Why is this issue important?

Grieving employees who were not supported at work lose an average of 30 workdays each year

35% of the Canadian workforce (6.1 million people) are juggling work and caregiving responsibilities.

Canada loses about 560,000 full-time employees due to the demands of caregiving and paid work

Every year, Canada loses about 560,000 full-time employees due to the demands of caregiving and paid work.

35% of the Canadian workforce are juggling work and caregiving responsibilities.

Grieving employees who were not supported at work lose an average of 30 workdays each year.

What is the Compassionate Workplace Campaign?

The goal of the Compassionate Workplace Campaign (CWC) is to create a more compassionate work environment for all Canadians, including working caregivers and those who are grieving.

The campaign includes tools, activities, communication materials, and a facilitated workshop that make it easy for any workplace to become more compassionate and supportive.

The campaign provides resources to achieve this goal by:

  • Building awareness and understanding of serious illness, caregiving, and grief experiences.
  • Decreasing the stigma associated with serious illness, caregiving, and grief.
  • Raising awareness of resources and supports.
  • Prompting and enabling supportive conversations.
  • Empowering people to create a more compassionate culture.

Start creating a compassionate workplace culture today.

Simply fill out the form below to receive your information kit and stay informed on campaign updates.

    Please click here to begin downloading the Compassionate Workplace Campaign information kit. If your file does not download automatically, right click to Save As.

    FAQs

    The Compassionate Workplace Campaign is designed for all workplaces of all sizes and was developed by national and international experts in caregiving, grief, and employee wellness in consultation with stakeholders representing employees and small, medium, and large businesses across the country.

    You will be provided with tools and supports to help with the planning, roll-out and implementation of the campaign, along with a facilitated workshop to increase employees’ and management’s skills in key topics. 

    Pallium will provide tools, activities, communication materials and support that will help you raise awareness and build an understanding of caregiving and grieving experiences in the workplace. The campaign includes both print, digital, and online components that can be delivered in-person or virtually.

    This is entirely at your discretion. There are many ways that the Compassionate Workplace Campaign can be brought to life in an organization in a year.

    The campaign includes a detailed guide that provides an overview of the campaign, roll-out options, and recommendations related to timing certain activities. It can be implemented either as a stand-alone initiative or one that complements your existing employee wellness activities, at a time of the year that works best with your corporate calendar. To help with scheduling the campaign, we have identified the relevant national awareness days in Canada that can be effective days to launch or draw focus to your campaign.

    It takes time to bring about a culture change, so we encourage participating companies to leverage the Compassionate Workplace Campaign over multiple years to realize the maximum benefit.

    You do not have to be an expert in the areas of caregiving, grief, and employee wellness to carry out a successful campaign. The campaign and its various elements have been designed to be turn-key and do not go deeply into concepts and theory beyond the common understanding of the average individual. The team at Pallium is here to assist you along the way.

    Acknowledgements

    The Compassionate Workplace Campaign and the materials, tools, and resources provided would not be available without the contributions, guidance, and support of the following individuals and organizations.

    Subject Matter Experts
    • Karen Browning, CHRL, CEC, Chief Executive Officer, iHR Advisory Services
    • Dr. Jennifer Newman, R. Psych, Director, Newman Psychological and Consulting Services
    • Neil Thompson, PhD, D.Litt., Avenue Media Solutions
    • Allison Williams, PhD, Professor, CIHR Research Chair in Gender, Work and Health, McMaster University

    • Dr. Philip Carverhill, R.D. Psych Carverhill Counselling & Consulting, Past Chair, International Work Group on Death, Dying & Bereavement 

    • Yvonne Heath, RN, Founder and CEO, Love Your Life to Death 

    Advisory Group
    • Julia Dima
      Lived experience as a caregiving and grieving employee
    • Addie Greco-Sanchez
      President, AGS Rehab Solutions Inc
    • Rachel Muston
      Lived experience as a grieving employee
    • Lynn Orzel
      Staff Representative, Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)
    • Kerilee Snatenchuk
      Director - People & Culture, ATB Financial
    • Lyne Wilson
      Assistant Vice-President - Talent Management, NAV CANADA

    Contact Us

    Send us an Email

    Have questions about the Compassionate Workplace Campaign? Email us anytime at: info@pallium.ca

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    Connect one-on-one, in real-time, through live chat with a Pallium representative. Available Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM ET.

    Give us a call

    You can call us directly at
    1-833-888-LEAP™ (5327).