COMPASSION AT WORK: WHERE LEADERSHIP MEETS HUMANITY
We help organisations embed compassion into leadership and culture.
We support teams through change, challenge, loss, and growth by developing capable leaders, offering practical tools, and creating spaces for meaningful conversation.
So people feel safe, seen, and supported — even in difficult times.
Sick and domestic leave is at record highs, reflecting rising pressures outside work.
1 in 10 New Zealanders is an unpaid carer, most also in paid work.
Over 50% of employees regularly work while unwell or stressed (presenteeism).
Statutory bereavement leave exists, but real support comes from compassionate leadership and flexible workplaces.
Our Services
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Our foundational and advanced workshops equip teams, leaders, and individuals with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to respond with care, clarity, and compassion to life’s realities at work — including grief, loss, caregiving, illness, change, and times of uncertainty.
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We help organisations translate compassion into practice — through policy, leadership development, and practical frameworks that support people through life’s challenges at work.
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Our process begins with listening. We offer a Compassionate Workplace Survey to assess your organisation’s current culture and identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities. Based on your needs, we co-design bespoke training and development pathways, ranging from one-off workshops to full accreditation.
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We offer flexible coaching and mentoring to help leaders and teams navigate the human realities of work — from loss, caregiving, and illness to stress, transition, and change.
Our multidisciplinary team provides grounded, compassionate support, helping organisations build confidence in difficult conversations and respond to vulnerability with clarity, care, and respect.
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We offer ad hoc, TED-style talks and panel events featuring voices from leadership, community care, wellbeing, spirituality, mental health, and lived experience. These sessions are designed to open up honest workplace conversations about life’s realities — including caregiving, loss, illness, change, resilience, and meaning — and can be tailored to suit your sector, organisation, or team.
Education and Training
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Foundations of Compassionate Leadership
Introduction to people-centred leadership, presence, and ethical decision-making
Understanding human vulnerability and supporting teams through change
Deepening – Leading Through Complexity and Transition
Strengthening resilience, relational leadership, and managing pressure
Navigating uncertainty, endings, and organisational change
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101 – Foundations of Compassionate Communication
Core skills in listening, feedback, and holding safe conversations
Introduction to trauma-aware and culturally responsive communication
Deepening – Tender Conversations & Complex Interactions
Managing conflict, delivering feedback, and navigating difficult emotions
Communication across difference, power, and culture in real workplace scenarios
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101 – Culture, Care, and Belonging
Exploring how culture shapes care, communication, and belonging
Introduction to cultural humility and everyday practice
Deepening – Te Tiriti, Cultural Safety, and Compassionate Practice
Embedding Te Tiriti responsibilities into organisational culture
Strengthening culturally safe practices and inclusive leadership
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Build confidence and language for discussing sensitive topics like terminal illness, bereavement, or caregiving—while maintaining professionalism and compassion. Ideal for HR, people leaders, and team members alike.
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A beginner’s guide to understanding dying, death, and care in our communities—from what palliative care really means to what happens after someone dies. Empowers workplaces to be informed and prepared.
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A practical guide to Advance Care Planning, Enduring Power of Attorney, and preparing for end-of-life—emotionally and legally. Supports employees to plan for themselves, loved ones, or clients with clarity and confidence.
FAQs
What is Compassionate Workplace Certification?
Compassionate Workplace Certification supports organisations to create a culture where grief, death, loss, and caregiving are met with empathy, clarity, and care. The certification process includes an evaluation of your current workplace culture—through a review of relevant policies and practices, and a confidential staff survey.
How much does Compassionate Workplace Certification
We aim to make support around grief and compassion in the workplace accessible to all organisations. Costs vary depending on the size and needs of your organisation. For workplaces with fewer than 20 staff, annual certification costs start at $3,000 + GST, which includes the survey, tailored recommendations, and an optional introductory workshop.
Contact Us
Let’s build a more compassionate workplace—together.
Whether you're curious about our workshops, looking to co-design something unique, or just exploring how compassion could transform your organisation, we’d love to hear from you.
About us
Compassion Works is a partnership between Mana Mindset and Mercy Hospice, bringing together leadership development, palliative care insights, and community-centred approaches. We help organisations build compassionate workplaces where people feel supported, seen, and able to thrive through change, challenge, and loss.