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Hello |
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 Sixteen people die at work every day. Every day. Additional employee deaths occur during off hours and impact many. When tragedy strikes the workplace, there is no easy or painless way to inform family members or co-workers ---- but it can and must be done well. How do you sensitively relay the information that a loved one will not ever be returning home from work? How do you safely manage the risks inherent in these announcements so that one tragedy does not generate additional tragedies. Business leaders are often charged with this difficult task without receiving necessary training or support. What happens will have long-term ramifications for the family, the company, and the person carrying the news.
This edition of PracticePoints includes a collection of resources to equip you with tools specific to:
- How to prepare yourself emotionally and tactically
- Reducing risk by controlling the setting
- What to say and not to say
- Enlisting resources and support
- Handling worst-case scenarios
- Involvement in memorial events and symbols
- Supporting your work team in the days to come
- Caring for yourself afterward
What a responsibility - what an honor.
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Bob VandePol, President
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Guidelines for Death Notification |
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Whether it is a result of a natural disaster, a large scale industrial accident, or some other workplace event, leaders and clinicians alike may face the responsibility of informing family and significant others of the death of their loved one. Doing so with both sensitivity and courage requires education tempered with compassion. This article from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress provides an excellent framework for anyone engaged in this critical task. To view the article click Notification.
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Recovering From the Death of a Coworker |
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Managers face many challenges following the death of a coworker. How do I inform other workers, especially those who are not present? How can I best support those who are grieving? Should I reach out to the family members? These and other questions can prove difficult in the midst of an already painful situation. This excerpt from "A Manager's Handbook: Handling Traumatic Events" offers solid, practical suggestions for organizational leadership at any level. To read the full article click Manager's Guide.
Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management
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Funerals and Memorials: A Part of Recovery |
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A memorial service or funeral is often an important part of the grief recovery process. These events offer an opportunity for communal healing and organizational expressions of remembrance, unity and solidarity, but leaders are often afraid they might fail to act or speak in the "right way." This easily read handout demystifies the role of leadership during this important social ritual. To read this article click Memorials.
Source: The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
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CCN to Offer Webinar on Death Notification |
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In this brief video message, CCN President Bob Vande Pol identifies some of the central questions business leaders and clinicians ask when faced with the task of performing a death notification. This information sets the tone and lays the groundwork for the upcoming webinar on this same topic to be offered on both June 25 and 26, 2009. To watch the video click Webinar Intro.
For information on registration for the webinar, see the "Upcoming Events" section of this PracticePoints.
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In The News |
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CCN Presents at EASNA
CCN Account Executive Jeff Gorter participated in a keynote panel presentation on the integration of EAP, HR, and Crisis Response roles following the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech University. The 2009 Annual Institute of the Employee Assistance Society of North America was held May 6-8 in Denver.
Construction Financial Management Association
CCN President Bob VandePol presented a workshop at the CFMA conference in Las Vegas entitled “Leadership in Times of Crisis” and met with construction/insurance leaders regarding managing the human and financial costs associated with construction-related tragedies.
ValueOptions Client Summit
CCN President Bob VandePol partnered with Bruce Blythe, CEO of Crisis Management International to present a webinar for ValueOptions client companies entitled “Leading the Workplace through These Times of Change”.
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CCN Offers Free Webinar on Death Notification
On June 25 and 26 CCN President Bob Vande Pol will present "Bearing Bad Tidings with Competence and Compassion", a free webinar exploring the essential elements of conducting death notifications. The one-hour training for Customers will be offered twice on the 25th, at 1:00pm EST and at 3:00pm EST.
A training specific to CCN Specialists will be presented on the 26th at 12:00pm EST. This training will be available in an on-demand format in the near future. To register, simply email your first/last name and the name of this specific webinar to support@crisiscare.com; you will receive confirmation and access instructions within 24 business hours. We look forward to hearing from you!
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CCN to Present at the World Conference on Disaster Management
On June 23 CCN Account Executive Jeff Gorter will co-present at the 19th Annual World Conference on Disaster Management in Toronto, ON., on the topic "Age to Age: Multigenerational Response to Trauma". To learn more or to register for the conference click WCDM.
Hope to see you there!
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"Causes of Death in the Workplace" by J. Paul Leigh
How dangerous is someone's job? Such data has a profound impact on EAP, HR, and Risk Management functions. The goal of this book is to improve the knowledge and working environment of American workers by providing an in-depth look at the job hazards in 324 industries and 265 occupations. To read more, or to order a copy, click here .
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On-Demand Webinar Library is Here!
CCN is proud to offer a variety of free webinars on topics of salient interest. Clinicians, business leaders, and managers will find these trainings to be a convenient avenue for staying on top of latest developments impacting the workforce when it comes to critical incident response.
Current webinars include:
Evolution of Critical Incident Response
This presentation reviews current research and best practices in critical incident response for the workplace, identifying goals and expectations for service delivery.
Return to Productivity after Workplace Tragedy
Participants will gain an understanding of the direct and indirect costs associated with critical incidents, list the individual and organizational reactions to trauma, and outline concrete strategies to facilitate resiliency and return-to-work.
Providing Support in the Midst of Financial Crisis
The skills and expertise of CCN Specialists are being requested more and more to assist employers during these tough economic times. This practical one-hour webinar will review general concepts essential to communicating compassion to those impacted by or anxious about the current economic crisis.
To request any of these trainings simply email your first/last name and the title of your desired webinar to support@crisiscare.comand you will receive access instructions within 24 business hours.
Watch this spot for new live and on-demand webinars in the future!
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Practice Points Archive
As part of CCN's on-going commitment to advancing the knowledge and resources available to all those interested in critical incident response best practices, we have established the Practice Points Archive. Past editions of Practice Points have dealt with such topics as the Evolution of Psychological First Aid, Resiliency, and Pandemic Preparedness and Response, among others. To view all past editions of Practice Points click here .
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