Supporting a colleague in the workplace…

Support in the Workplace

When illness, dying or grief occur in the workplace, it is important to understand:

-How this will impact the work place

-How to respond meaningfully and in a supportive way

-The importance of creating a supportive and safe environment

-How to shared grief can strengthen the work environment

 

How Illness, Death, and Grief impact the work place

Practical Repercussions

-Work time spent on care giving & practical tasks

-Financial concerns/impacts

-Employee errors

-On-the-job accidents

-Time off needed/absenteeism

-Consequences to management and team

Emotional Repercussions

-Decreased self-esteem

-Inability to focus on work

-Anxiety about performance & job security

-Alienation due to lack of understanding

 

How to respond meaningfully and supportively

-Understand loss and grief

-Lead and model

-Open the conversation

-Provide appropriate information

-Recognize ALL affected parties

-Identify appropriate resources and provide appropriate supports:

Office of Victim Assistance provides free, confidential counseling and group/staff debriefs

 

Issues specific to creating a supportive and safe workplace environment

-There are differences in staff responses

-There are differences in the kinds of support needed

-Confidentiality issues

-Resource management and allocation

-Immediate attention vs. long-term follow-up

Shared grief can strengthen the work environment

-Caregivers/grievers need acceptance

-Caregivers/grievers need job security

-Teamwork productivity can be enhanced

-Organizational management of crisis sends message to entire staff

-Grief is inherently a growth experience, individually and as a group

Build your support and information systems BEFORE they are needed

To return to Office of Victim Assistance’s Grief and Loss/Death Overview page click here