LUNCH N LEARN: Bereavement at Work

Enjoy a light lunch and hear from Dr. Kent Tonkin, Associate Professor at Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA, on the topic of bereavement in the workplace. Lunch will be provided at no cost to attendees thanks to the generous sponsorship of C&S Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A. 

One size does NOT fit all: Integrating employee preferences into workplace bereavement leave and communications policies.

The Family Medical Leave Act guarantees most American workers up to 12 weeks of leave for a medical condition, but most employees can expect four days of bereavement time…if their employers offer it. This session will explore the impacts of leave policies on work-life balance during personal loss and the power that supervisors have in managing employee bereavement. Best practices for flexible workplace policies will also be discussed in the context of today’s work environment. Dr. Tonkin will apply the results of his qualitative research alongside trends and practices in the modern workplace to suggest ways in which managers and employers can create more grief-literate (and compassionate) workplaces.
 

Bio: Dr. Tonkin is an Associate Professor at Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA, where he teaches undergraduate courses in HR, management, and management information systems in the Shields School of Business, as well as classes for the General Education, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) and Doctor of Educational Leadership (Ed. D.) programs. In addition to his classroom work, Dr. Tonkin also regularly consults with business and industry through his company, Tonkin to You, LLC. Areas of specialty include communications training, workplace bereavement policy, conflict management techniques, time management, and non-verbal communications.