Contact: Wayne Loder, The Compassionate Friends, 866-964-4000

OAK BROOK, Ill., Mar. 3 /Christian Newswire/ -- One hundred forty one employers, representing 39 states plus Washington DC are being recognized by The Compassionate Friends for showing extra sensitivity to bereaved employees following the death of a child. The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is the nation's largest self-help bereavement organization with over 600 chapters serving all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico.

Nominated by the persons they have directly helped, these employers are receiving Compassionate Employer Recognition in 2009 for going above and beyond the normal policies of most companies in helping their employees when the death of a child occurred.

Criteria for Compassionate Employer Recognition include, but are not limited to:
 

1. Allowing additional time off without loss of benefits.
    
2. Allowing flexible work schedules and assignments.
    
3. Allowing leeway in job performance standards.
    
4. Fostering an environment of mutual support among coworkers.
    
5. Providing professional grief counseling, human resources support, or information regarding self-help bereavement organizations.
    
6. Other policies and practices that go beyond what is normal in the community.
    

This is the ninth year for recognition of employers, with recipients jumping from three the first year, to the current 141 for 2009. Employers being recognized range from small companies with as few as four employees to large companies with many thousands of employees.

"So often employees who have experienced the death of a child are expected to return to work in three days, handle the same work load as before, and to leave their grief at home," says Patricia Loder, executive director of The Compassionate Friends. "There is oftentimes a lack of understanding by employers about the realities of grief in the workplace. These 141 employers, large and small, public and private, are being recognized for providing the compassion and understanding that is so vital to the bereavement process."

A complete list of all recipients is available on The Compassionate Friends national website at www.compassionatefriends.org under "News and Events."

TCF is also planning the largest bereavement conference in the country in Portland, Oregon August 7-9, 2009. As many as 1500 bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents will join together for friendship, understanding, and hope.

The mission of The Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive. To contact The Compassionate Friends, call toll-free 877-969-0010 or visit TCF's national website at www.compassionatefriends.org.