To Absent Friends week: Remembering together and building a supportive workplace
This week (1–7 November) is To Absent Friends week. Scotland’s annual festival of storytelling and remembrance. It is a time for us to stop, reflect, and share memories of loved ones who have died.
People who have died remain an important part of our lives. Their stories shape who we are, yet finding space to talk about loss can sometimes feel difficult. To Absent Friends week gives us an opportunity to share stories and celebrate the people we miss.
Working towards the Bereavement Charter Mark for Scotland
Grief does not stay at home when we come to work. Having compassionate support from colleagues can make a huge difference during loss.
That is why we're working towards earning the Bereavement Charter Mark for Scotland. Led by our My Wellbeing group, this initiative focuses on creating a culture where we can:
- Talk openly about loss
- Reduce the stigma around grief
- Ensure everyone feels supported when they face a bereavement
Supporting each other
As part of our commitment to the Charter, we are taking practical steps to support our teams. Our new course, Supporting Colleagues Through Bereavement: The Bereavement Charter for Scotland, gives you simple, practical tools to support grieving colleagues with empathy and care. It only takes 30-minutes to complete and you can access it on GOLD.
Log into GOLD to complete the Bereavement Charter course.
You can also access free, confidential counselling and advice anytime through PAM Assist. For extra tools, and mental health resources, visit our My Wellbeing pages.
How you can get involved this week
Take a moment this week to reflect and remember your absent friends. That can mean sharing a story with a colleague or keeping someone special in your thoughts.
To help build a supportive workplace, log into GOLD and complete our new course. You can also visit our My Wellbeing pages for guidance, support, and helpful resources.