As if the pandemic hasn’t done enough to negatively impact your workers’ mental health, trouble and violence has exploded on the world stage. This can have a disastrous effect on your employees. Here is how you can support them:
- Understand where their responses are coming from. People are likely to have different responses based on their personal experiences, backgrounds, and relationships. Don’t judge those who have a stronger response; instead, try to determine where their feelings are coming from and how you can help. Realize that help for those suffering isn’t one-size-fits-all.
- Be aware of how trauma responses manifest. Learn about the mental health symptoms that tend to arise in response to an international crisis. Watch for signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Common signs include difficulty sleeping, changes in eating habits, flashbacks, and mood swings.
- Connect employees to workplace-sponsored resources. Make sure your workers know about your Employee Assistance Program and any other mental health benefits or support groups available to them. Offer flexibility to enable them to participate in programs and get the help they need.
- Give your teams a break from the news. Try not to let the news of the world overtake communication channels and conversations. Consider posting links to videos and programming that are inspiring, entertaining, and/or hopeful. Bring in pet or music programs to help engage and distract people.
- Organize an action. Identify a fundraising program that everyone can get involved in to help those victims of the international conflict. Give workers a way to get involved and make a difference.
