After the Crisis
The ending of the disaster assignment, whether it involved immediate response or long-term recovery work, can be a period of mixed emotions for workers.
The ending of the disaster assignment can be a period of mixed emotions for workers.
While there may be some relief that the disaster operation is ending, there is often a sense of loss and "letdown," with some difficulty making the transition back into family life and the regular job.
Here are some ways to minimize stress for workers after the crisis:
- Allow time off for workers who have experienced personal trauma or loss. Transition these individuals back into the organization by initially assigning them to less demanding jobs.
- Develop protocols to provide workers with stigma-free counseling so workers can address the emotional aspects of their experience.
- Institute exit interviews and/or seminars to help workers put their experiences into perspective and to validate what they have seen, done, thought, and felt.
- Provide educational workshops around stress management and self-care.
- Do not ignore what workers are experiencing by telling them to "just get back to work." Let them know you understand the stress they're feeling and that you are there to help.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-5. Which of the following recommendations should be discouraged when employees suffer from serious workplace stress?
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