Managing an Employee’s Personal Crisis
Employees are people and they bring their personal lives with them when they enter the business doors or virtually start work for the day. The reverse happens as well as employees bring home their work issues and it impacts their families. It’s impossible to create a clean line between personal and business and most managers see it on a daily basis.
Some employees never show any sign of personal issues, others are more expressive of the various changes in their lives. Whatever the situation, your role as their manager is to make sure they stay focus on their performance.
What happens when it’s a major crisis in the employee’s life?
I found this post on The Daily Muse “3 Tips for Managing Employees During a Personal Crisis” by Jennifer Winter. This post offers sound advice in handling this difficult employee issue by being supportive of them as well as handling the daily functioning of your department.
At first glance, helping your employees through a difficult personal issue may seem simple. Be sympathetic and supportive, and make sure they know you’re there for them, right? Actually, there’s much more to it than that. And, as my experiences have shown me, if not handled properly, what started out as a personal crisis could morph into one of a professional nature.
Most managers are uncomfortable in handling a personal crisis. How can you support the employee and still handle the business needs?
- Don’t get entrenched in the emotional aspect of the employee’s experience. Instead help them find resources to guide them through the crisis.
- Spend your time finding business solutions to handle the workload of the employee. Support your other employees who will pick up additional work.
- If you only have one employee, try to find temporary support to handle the extra work.
- Work with the employee to create a schedule that helps them through the process over the long haul. Initially they may need a few days off, but may also need reduced time over a longer period.
If you find that the employee’s needs are placing undue stress on your other team members as well as yourself, take some time to consider other options to help the team.
Be well,
Pat
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