Regardless of your workforce size, it’s inevitable: Someday, one of your employees will face an emotionally difficult situation that impacts his or her work performance. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a divorce, a critical illness or some other situation, you’ll need to provide support to help your employee get through a troubling time. You can follow five key tips for helping a staff member weather tough times, get the help and healing they need, and get back on their feet. Here’s what you need to know.
Five Ways to Provide Crisis Support to Employees in Need
It’s a critical skill for any manager—being able to understand an employee’s personal needs and respond accordingly. Try any of the following:
Keep an Open Door Policy—with a Limit
Always remember, you’re the boss, not the close friend. While it’s important for your staff to feel comfortable discussing things with you, it’s important not to blur this line. Becoming close friends with your workers can make it difficult to provide reviews and constructive criticism in the future.
Ask What Your Employee Needs
This simple question can help guide you in your communications with your worker—and help you determine how to proceed. Based on your company’s policy for paid time off, disability leave, bereavement leave or FMLA, your worker may need some time out of the office to get things straightened out at home.
Offer Comprehensive Benefits
Another important feature in helping your workers is by offering benefits they can use when they need help the most. These can include short- and long-term disability leave, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), voluntary benefits to set aside money for unforeseen expenses, or disease management services.
Don’t Become Key-Person Dependent
Crisis support can reach more than just the employee having the personal crisis—what about your remaining staff who need to carry on while that employee is out of the office? Be sure to cross-train your staff so you’ll have one or more backups to complete all tasks. This can help prevent unnecessary stress and keep business running smoothly.
Check the Employee’s Progress
It may be a delicate situation, but remember to check on the employee to see how he or she is doing. Remind your worker of available benefits (if applicable) and work with human resources to provide flexible scheduling or anything else the employee may need during his or her difficult time.
Be Compassionate
You can remain a respected authority figure while still letting your worker know that you care. Sending a card, flowers or emails are within the boundaries of being a good boss.
Need to Supplement Your Staff?
While a worker is out on leave, do you need to add temporary staff members? Or maybe you’re in need of additional full-time staff. Whatever your staffing requirements in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, Snelling Georgia Group will work with you to find the right candidates. To learn more, contact us today!
