Employee Support During Floods & Other Natural Disasters: Tips & Resources from go2HR
go2HR has shared a list of practical things employers can do to help support employees during and after a natural disaster:
Check in – Remember that employees may be dealing with the impacts of a disaster both at home and at work. Check in regularly with them and encourage them to do the same. Where possible, provide support such as contact information for your employee family assistance program, benefits provider, employment insurance or mental health resources.
Communicate – During and after a disaster, communication will be critical. Provide ongoing communication, updates and information using as many channels as possible (texts, email, social media, phone, communication apps, etc.). Access to power may be limited or interrupted during a disaster so be sure to keep messages brief and concise.
Offer flexibility – Often in times of disaster, individuals, businesses and communities join together to support each other. While some employees may need time off to deal with their personal situations, others may have a desire to be involved in clean up or rebuilding efforts however they may not be able to financially afford to take the time off. Offer flexibility such as additional time off (paid or unpaid), alternate work schedules, or adjust shift start/end times for employees who need or seek to be involved.
Move forward – As the initial shock and emergency response period passes and recovery efforts start, everyone’s attention will turn to regaining a sense of normalcy. Employees will want and need to know what is happening in their workplace and what is expected of them. Be sure to let your employees know how the business has been impacted and their job/shifts, etc. as a result. Depending on how your business has been impacted, this may include communicating information such as:
When they can expect to get back to work
What their schedule will look like
What they should do if they need additional time off to deal with insurance, clean up or other personal challenges related to the flood
What they should do if they are working from home and their work equipment has been damaged, etc.
As recovery and clean-up efforts start to get underway, it is important to recognize that it will take time and that individuals will respond and process the events in their own way.
Additional Mental Health Resource
Tips for Coping with Natural Disaster Stress - If you or your employees are feeling stressed or anxious, you are not alone and support is available. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) BC offers tips and resources to help cope with natural disaster stress.
