Last Aid at the Workplace as a sensitive approach to death and grief (LAUT)

German Version

Scientific management: Prof. Dr. Raymond Voltz, Priv.-Doz. Dr. Dr. Julia Strupp (Zentrum für Palliativmedizin, Uniklinik Köln), Dr. Georg Bollig
Research associates: Dr. Helena Kukla, Golrokh Esmaili, Melanie Joshi, Karin Ohler
Duration: 10/2023-12/2025
Funding Institutions: Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ) und die Paula Kubitscheck-Vogel-Stiftung (PKV-Stiftung)

Every employee is likely to be affected by grief in the course of their working life - either their own grief or the grief of a co-worker. Coping with death and grief has repercussions on work capacity and psychosocial well-being within the workplace. A sensitive communication culture, adaptation of working conditions, and providing emotional support services is essential needs-based support to those affected. A foundational knowledge of topics related to dying, death, and grief positively influences the provision of need-based support for employees.

The objective of the LAUT project (Last Aid at the Workplace as a sensitive approach to death and grief) is to implement and evaluate providers of last aid at the workplace who serve as contact persons for matters related to dying, death, and grief. In sub-project (1), a representative online survey of managers and employees is conducted to gather information on experiences and the current situation regarding dealing with dying, death, and grief in the workplace. In sub-project (2), last-aid courses are organized in companies to impart compact knowledge on the topics of dying, death, serious illness, and mourning, as well as palliative care. An evaluation of these courses aims to modify the content of the last aid courses through a questionnaire survey. In sub-project (3), last aid course participants will participate in focus group interviews to share their experiences and preferences regarding course content with the aim to develop a more precise concept for last aid courses at the workplace.