Fact Sheets:
Traumatic Incidents That Affect Your Workforce: A Guide for Managers
Trauma is defined as any physical or emotional shock that has the
potential to create lasting and substantial psychological damage to
individuals or groups. Potentially traumatic events include the
following:
- Workplace Violence
- Terrorism
- Death of a Co-worker
- Homicides in the Community
- Earthquake/Hurricane/Fire/Flood
- Highly Publicized Crimes of Violence or Sex
- Large Scale Environmental Pollution
- Community-Wide Disasters
- Multiple-Injury/Fatality Accidents
- Child-Related Traumatic Events
As a manager, your first priority is to remain calm. Be prepared to
listen and to show support and respect for those who are affected.
If necessary, notify family members of those involved. Unless they
are in immediate danger, employees should stay at the work site. If
the trauma involves a family member and requires an employee to leave
work, it may be a good idea to have someone accompany that person, who
may be in a state of shock. Management of the traumatic incident is
often determined by policy or regulation.
Once the situation is under control and everyone is safe, contact
available services, or consult with crisis management professionals, or
do both. Counselors can help those who have been affected to move
forward and return to their normal work habits. Management should
identify everyone who has been exposed to the extraordinary event so
they can be included in the session.
Dealing immediately with a crisis can help reduce the complications that
may diminish employee effectiveness and morale. This may be a good time
to encourage workers to make use of the EAP or to talk with a counselor
yourself. Management should also brief employees and supervisors about
how to handle customer inquiries. When possible, details of the incident
and of management's response should be published or otherwise
communicated to employees to minimize rumors.
Management can also suggest ways for interested family and friends to
help. These may include offering to make meals for an affected family,
donating leave to coworkers, keeping the company informed of problems or
progress, or assisting financially. Companies can participate by
establishing a trust fund, providing time off, or offering services
to family members of deceased or injured employees. Management's
limitations should also be clarified.
