Dying Matters Awareness Week is an annual campaign from Hospice UK. Its aim is to create a culture where people are comfortable talking about death, dying and grief. This year’s campaign runs from Monday May 8 until Sunday May 14. The goal this year is to encourage people to talk about death, dying and grief in the workplace.
Bereavement at work
Hospice UK points out that 57% of employees have experienced bereavement in the last five years. However, less than one in five managers feel very confident about supporting someone they manage with a bereavement at work.
- Only 17% of managers would feel very confident supporting a direct report who was bereaved
- 77% of 18-34 year olds would consider leaving their job if they didn’t get proper support when bereaved
- Less than a third of employees are aware their employer has a bereavement policy
The charity says that the stigma that surrounds grieving generally means that many people can struggle to cope after a bereavement. This is true in the workplace as much as any other areas of life.
“We spend so much of our lives at work – and we shouldn’t have to hide our experiences of death and dying from our colleagues, our peers, or our bosses. We want to create an open and compassionate society where we are comfortable facing the realities of dying, death and grief.”
Dying Matters
Previously Dying Matters Awareness Week themes like the 'Big Conversation', encouraged everyone to speak more openly about death and dying. Another asked 'What can you do?', focusing on how we can help others face up to the challenges of death and bereavement. Like all Dying Matters’ campaigns, the central point of this year’s awareness week is to get people talking about death, dying and grief. The aim is to make it easier for those who need help, to get it, making sure that workplaces are properly set up to support people.
Awareness Week activities
Dying Matter’s Awareness Week encourages the public to talk with friends, family and loved ones about their end-of-life wishes; including where they want to die and their funeral plans.
A programme of national and local activities put the importance of talking about dying, death and bereavement on the national agenda. Groups across the country will be offering information and support between 8 and 14 May.
You can find out what’s on during Dying Matters' Awareness Week on the charity’s website. This year’s campaign includes a free webinar focusing on how to talk about death at work. The webinar will provide practical advice on how to start workplace conversations about death, dying and grief. Individuals and companies are encouraged to hold their own events. Businesses can use Dying Matters’ resources guide and register events on the website.
You can also follow along or join in on Twitter by following @DyingMatters and using the hashtags #DyingMattersAwarenessWeek and keep an eye on what's happening on Facebook and Instagram. Dying Matters Awareness Week is led by Hospice UK and takes place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
