Manage with care: strategies for helping employees triumph over tragedies. (Inbox).By now, you've heard the news. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks changed the landscapes of New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and Washington D.C., and stole the lives of more than 5,000 people. While this traumatic event A traumatic event is an event that is or may be a cause of trauma. The term may refer to one of the followiong:
"Anyone can suffer posttraumatic posttraumatic /posttrau·mat·ic/ (post?traw-mat´ik) occurring as a result of or after injury. post·trau·mat·ic adj. Following or resulting from injury or trauma. symptoms and they may not recognize that their reactions are related to the traumatic event," advises Ann T. Brody, L.C.S.W., a professional counselor who works with various employee-assistance programs. Some common symptoms after a critical incident include fear, confusion, memory problems, suspiciousness, dizziness, a shortened attention span, as well as a host of other reactions. "If you disregard these symptoms, your employees aren't likely to adjust well," cautions Brody. So how can you ensure that you're properly supporting your employees in a time of crisis? Sensitivity is key, advises Kate Wendleton, president of the Five O'Clock Club, a career counseling Noun 1. career counseling - counseling on career opportunities counseling, counselling, guidance, counsel, direction - something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action network in New York (www.five oclockclub.com). Here are some more suggestions: * Watch for signs. "Be aware that employees may be hypersensitive hy·per·sen·si·tive adj. Responding excessively to the stimulus of a foreign agent, such as an allergen; abnormally sensitive. hy ," she says. "[Employees] may be nervous, drop coffee, not sleep well, giggle, or say dumb things--these are all due to anxiety." * Prepare for a decline in productivity. When tragedy strikes, staff members may need to talk more about the issues. This could greatly impact productivity, particularly if the tragedy was on the job or impacted a fellow employee. Productivity may also suffer as a result of increased absenteeism or late arrivals. You can also expect increased vacation requests. * Take time to grieve. Grieving at work may help an employee bring closure to an incident. Understand that people grieve differently and respect those differences. Allow them to openly express their concerns. Also be prepared with on-site or telephone counseling telephone counseling The provision of advice and verbalized moral support to a person with a particular need by a group of either volunteers or a paid staff with some level of experience and/or expertise in the area of interest; TC may include crisis . * Provide reassurance. After a tragedy, it's important to communicate what kind of safety procedures are in place and what employee-assistance programs are available to the staff. * Return to normalcy nor·mal·cy n. Normality. Noun 1. normalcy - being within certain limits that define the range of normal functioning normality . As much as possible, try to help the staff ease back into their daily routines. Adds Wendleton, "A normal routine makes people feel normal and helps alleviate some anxiety." |
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