The Grief Confident Workplace Standard
The Grief Confident Workplace Standard is a published benchmark for workplace bereavement capability. A workplace that meets it can display the Grief Confident badge and is entered on the Grief Confident Register. The pillars of the standard are the same for every workplace; what changes with size is the scale of what is needed to meet them.
The four pillars
Grief literacy. Members from across the workforce have been taught what grief is, how long it really lasts, what helps and what does not.
Grief First Aiders. Certified, named colleagues trained to be the first point of contact after a bereavement.
A Compassionate Return Framework. A practice managers can follow, whatever the policy says: the first conversation, the leave in practice, the return, and the year after.
Support that reaches work and home. Support that reaches the employee's household, including children. This can be as simple as signposting to trusted resources and services.
What the standard asks of your workplace
The same four pillars, scaled to your headcount. A smaller workplace commits to less, not to a lower standard of care.
Small workplaces
UNDER 50 EMPLOYEES- At least one Grief Literacy session delivered annually.
- At least one certified Grief First Aider, known to the whole team.
- A simple return-to-work conversation guide adopted, no formal HR function needed.
- Signposting to external support, including for children, as standard.
Medium workplaces
50–250 EMPLOYEES- At least two certified Grief First Aiders, adding more as you grow.
- Grief Literacy for members from across the workforce, refreshed annually.
- The Compassionate Return Framework embedded in manager practice and induction.
- Signposting to external support, including for children, as standard.
Large workplaces
250+ EMPLOYEES- At least one certified Grief First Aider per 50 employees. This can be done via our train the trainer course.
- Grief Literacy for members from across the workforce, refreshed annually.
- The Compassionate Return Framework embedded in policy, manager training and HR practice.
- A bereavement specialist behind the HR team all year, with quarterly reporting and an annual impact summary.
- Signposting to external support, including for children, as standard.
Certification and renewal
Certification is awarded when the standard is met and is maintained through the Grief Confident Register: a record of who is trained, where they sit, and when certification is due for renewal. We maintain the Register for you and share it with your quarterly report or on request. Workplaces that meet the standard may display the Grief Confident badge on their website, careers pages and internal communications.