Crisis management and business continuity plans should consider the emotional and psychological impact of distress, rather than just practical elements, according to a report from employee assistance programme LifeWorks.
It warns that many businesses concentrate on the physical elements of a crisis such as electrical power, essential services and IT backup arrangements, often overlooking steps to support the psychological and emotional needs of staff exposed to trauma and distress.
Colin Grange, clinical director of LifeWorks, said that giving the right support to employees who have been exposed to a traumatic event is critical in reducing long-term emotional damage.
“Although the majority of people will return to normal after a period of recovery, for some there may be an impairment in their capacity to cope with everyday life and some may even develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,” he said.
His words come in the wake of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) updating the UK’s threat status to ‘critical’ following the terrorist attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester on 22 May. NaCTSO has called for businesses to “reassure their staff to ensure they are alert, but not alarmed". The new threat level implies that another attack could be imminent.
Grange suggested firms should undertake a risk assessment of critical incidents that may occur in the future and how these will be handled internally, with a focus on how managers will guide and support workers.
He highlighted the importance of HR in the planning and implementation of a crisis plan. “As with all crisis management, the better prepared HR departments are in advance of a crisis event the better the psychological and emotional outcome for employees,” he said.
“Good support after a traumatic event benefits the individual employee by preventing normal emotional reactions becoming more serious and distressing. Equally, the employer benefits by reducing the need for staff to take time off work, or being less productive and effective at work.”
