Report on Business March 2003

Suggestions for corporate responses

• Offer time off for employees wishing to give blood or volunteer their time in other ways.
• Provide full support for employee and families directly affected by the tragedy.
• Provide employees with an opportunity to express their feelings and concerns.
• Provide professional mental health counseling for employees if needed.
• Return to normal as quickly as possible. There are strong reasons to keep commerce moving ahead.

What to do as manager?

• Be aware of your own thoughts, feelings and concerns. Ask questions such as: Can you tell me more about that? How do you feel right now? Am I intruding?
• Stay in the present, and be open to employee concerns. Be non- judgmental, empathetic and genuine.
• Give employees the opportunity to express their thoughts, feelings and concerns. Encourage them to talk about the incident, but do not pressure them. The primary job is to listen and reassure.
• Encourage employees to talk to others who will listen. Tell them it is okay to express their feelings to others they trust. Common sense advice is helpful such as: Don't try to bottle up your feelings since they will come out when you least expect it.
• Do not make their experience your own.
• Fear is always balanced by hope. Never take that hope away but don't offer false hope either.

Helpful personal hints

• Try to rest a bit more. The body and mind need time to repair.
• Recurring thoughts, dreams or flashbacks are normal. Don't try to fight them. They'll decrease over time.
• Eat well-balanced and regular meals. Keep sugar intake low and do not increase intake of coffee, tea or cola.
• Try to keep a reasonable level of activity. Physical activity is often helpful and helps reduce stress level.
• Express feelings as they arise.
• Talk to people who love you.
• Consider calling your EAP if the feelings become prolonged or too intense.
• Do not use alcohol or drugs to help cope. There is a tendency for alcohol consumption to increase following involvement in a critical accident.

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