BIMA HR Peer Network Roundtable | Bereavement and Grief

Online Only Event: We will send you a meeting link once you sign up.

This is a BIMA Member only session. For more information on becoming a BIMA Member visit the BIMA Site or email web@bima.co.uk

The impact of bereavement on the UK workforce is significant. Each year, around two million employees experience “intense grief”, yet 43% say their organisation has no bereavement policy in place. This gap leaves many people without the support they need during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

In recognition of National Grief Awareness Week 2025, the next BIMA HR Peer Network Roundtable will focus on how we can better understand, respect, and support grief in the workplace.

We’ll be joined by Fiona Brandt, People Operations Lead at the Society of London and UK Theatre, who will share insights on building more compassionate workplaces and practical steps HR teams can take to improve support for grieving employees.

Agenda:
• National Grief Awareness Week
• How to support a grieving employee
• Current legislation surrounding bereavement and grief
• Bereavement (and related) policies
• Growing with grief
• Supporting yourself as an HR professional
• Breathing and centering practice
• Open discussion

Limited to 12 attendees to allow for discussion. The Chatham House Rule applies and places are strictly limited to one per organisation.

Our Peer Network leads will guide the discussion, sharing perspectives, but crucially looking into what you are doing.

We hope you can make it!

Guest speaker:

Fiona Brandt, People Operations Lead , Society of London and UK Theatre

Fiona Brandt is a People Operations Lead at the Society of London and UK Theatre. Previous to this she worked for almost 20 years in the creative and communications industries. She is also a yoga, mindfulness and meditation teacher trained to the highest level attainable in the UK. Her background in wellbeing shapes the way she approaches her work, with a strong focus on creating workplace cultures where everyone feels valued, supported and able to thrive.

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