At the heart of compassion at work: an interview with Hospice Mississauga

May 13, 2024, by Danielle Bell and Stephanie Messier |

As the aging population increases, more workers are taking on caregiving roles in addition to those who care for their younger dependents. In 2022, over six million Canadians balanced paid work with some form of unpaid care for family members, as reported by Statistics Canada. Juggling work and personal life in these circumstances is challenging, and when it comes to the end of life for a family member, it becomes an even more emotionally taxing experience for an already exhausted caregiver. Unfortunately, the lack of employer support often leads to these dedicated individuals leaving their jobs. With the caregiver population on the rise, it's crucial for employers to recognize the role of compassion in retaining their employees.

What is compassion? Compassion involves recognizing the emotions, experiences and challenges someone is going through and responding with understanding and a willingness to support and help.

Understanding compassion is essential for a manager, especially when dealing with an employee caring for a terminally ill dependent. The team at Hospice Mississauga is a testament to the value of compassionate culture and leadership. Hospice Mississauga is the largest community hospice in Ontario. It supports individuals facing terminal illnesses and extends its services to family members and caregivers at no cost to families.

The management team and staff at Hospice Mississauga contribute to the culture of compassion daily through their actions, most often in vulnerable situations. To support the hospice staff, managers provide them with a safe and understanding environment in which to express and process their emotional experiences. They ensure the staff feels part of the mission through reinforcement of the strategic plan guided by their mission, with an ongoing focus on growth and development, individual goals, and listening to ideas from the people doing the work.

Caregiving can significantly impact an employee's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Thus, managers support their staff by prioritizing employee well-being and encouraging time off for self-care. Employees who feel supported during difficult times are likelier to remain committed to the organization.

During our interview with Kitrina Fex, the Executive Director of Hospice Mississauga, she shared with our team what makes her proud to work in such a compassionate environment. She first respects and admires the work of her team, who show up at work every day armed with the most incredible empathy. She also stated that to work in a caregiving environment, you need strength. When asked what advice she has for leaders working in difficult environments, Kitrina shared that one must find the right people to fit the culture supported by the right leadership team. “It is also about growing and nurturing our staff, engaging and developing them while creating a psychological health and safety approach.”

How to develop a compassionate culture

Compassionate leaders can set the tone for an organizational culture and create an environment where empathy, understanding, and support are valued. The management team at Hospice Mississauga is an excellent example of an employer creating a culture of compassion for their employees as professional caregivers who are experiencing vulnerable and emotional situations with their end-of-life clients and their families. Therefore, they prioritize a “mental health first” approach. For instance, if a caregiver cannot accomplish a given task, there is no judgment, and someone else will have their back.

With an evolving demographic environment, more workers will become caregivers, and the need for a flexible and compassionate work environment will be critical if they want to retain their best people.

Hospice Mississauga offers resources that could help caregivers that would be equally helpful for employers to appreciate better the duality of roles many employees hold while processing the end of life for their loved ones, either for their aging parents or their younger dependents. For more information about Hospice Mississauga and how they can assist you and your employees, visit: https://hospicemississauga.ca/