In recent months Crisis Care Network has been heavily engaged in response to the ’08 hurricane season. We perpetually consulted with impacted business leaders and our own network of Critical Incident Response Specialists, reminding them to plan resilience/recovery strategies in a multi-component, phase-sensitive way. Hurricanes and the resultant floods require additional emphasis upon delivering the right kind of support at the right time simply because recovery takes such an agonizingly long time. Often, the greatest source of stress is not the incident itself but having to deal with immense, protracted logistical tedia when not at one’s best. 

The current economic crisis carries with it many dynamics comparable to the impact of a flood: financial ramifications, a sense of powerlessness, an undefined target for attributed blame, and an expanded timeframe minus a definable endpoint. This issue of PracticePoints addresses several strategies for leading individuals and organizations through such a time as this.
 

Best!

Bob VandePol, President

When we think of a workplace trauma, specific images tend to come to mind. An industrial accident, a natural disaster, the untimely death of a coworker from a heart attack, or an armed robbery in a bank or retail setting are not hard to connect with the word “trauma.”  While tragic, these types of events present dynamics that allow leaders to focus their efforts and mobilize their responses. For example, there is a specific circumstance to refer to, a defined time when the incident occurred, and a clear impact to which a group or community can rally around when responding. [read more]

Financial stressors present with unique characteristics that evoke a range of reactions specific to these kinds of situations. Knowing what to expect empowers workers and managers alike. This excellent tip sheet, "Managing Your Stress in Difficult Financial Times", provides valuable information for anyone challenged by today's economic climate. To view the full article click Article. 
This material is presented with permission from the American Psychological Association. 

In this intriguing article, Dr. Richard Hollinger explores the correlation between workplace theft and an economic downturn.  As a professor in the Department of Criminology at the Univ. of Florida, Dr. Hollinger's insights shed light on ways to mitigate this dynamic. To view the article click Workplace Theft.
This article reprinted with permission from Loss Prevention Magazine.