Helping leaders navigate life's toughest moments.

When employees experience bereavement, serious illness, family breakdown or other major life events, managers are expected to respond with confidence, compassion and sound judgement.

A leader listening with calm attention

More than

30%

of employees experience a significant life event each year.

While most organisations have policies, HR support and Employee Assistance Programmes, these situations are rarely straightforward or follow a standard script.

Managers are expected to know how to balance compassion with business needs, often with little preparation.

Handled well, these moments build trust, confidence and loyalty. Handled poorly, they can lead to absence, poor performance and avoidable turnover.

We build leadership capability for moments that matter

CompassionWorks equips leaders and managers with the confidence, judgement and practical skills to respond effectively when significant life events affect their teams.

Simulation Labs

Simulation Labs

Leaders practise difficult conversations, make decisions in real time and receive expert coaching in a safe environment through immersive workshops.

Built on simulation based learning and reflective practice, an established approach used in healthcare to develop confident decision making in complex situations.

Capability Coaching

Capability Coaching

One to one coaching that helps managers apply learning to real situations.

Perfect for leaders supporting colleagues through ongoing or particularly complex circumstances.

Manager Toolkit

Manager Toolkit

Practical guides, conversation frameworks, checklists and workplace resources that managers can use before, during and after significant life events.

Designed to support confident decision making in the flow of work.

The impact

For organisations

  • More consistent handling of complex situations
  • Reduced escalation and grievances
  • Faster return to productivity
  • Lower risk of absence and attrition
  • Improved trust and engagement

For leaders

  • More confidence
  • Better conversations
  • Clarity in uncertainty
  • Clearer judgement
  • Less fear of getting it wrong

Why CompassionWorks?

CompassionWorks combines decades of experience supporting people through life's most difficult moments with practical leadership development designed for today's workplace.

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Drawing on best practice from the healthcare sector, our unique expertise complements existing HR, EAP and wellbeing provision by strengthening the capability of the people who matter most when serious life events impact teams.