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 1) Your Pandemic Plan must include an effective Communications System. By keeping your workforce informed and connected you create a sense of control in a situation that is characterized by the absence of control. 2) Psychological health assessment and support: Through pre-planning you will have a system in place whereby employees who are home-bound - either due to their own illness or that of a family member, will be in contact with professionals who can provide telephone or electronic crisis support. The benefits are multi-fold: - reduced isolation
- updated status reports
- web-based group conference briefings at the employee and management levels.
3) Crisis and grief counseling: Engage trauma specialists to regularly assess and educate your workforce on the impact of death and loss. This needs to be carried out routinely and repeated as necessary. 4)Hand washing: we've all seen the notices in restaurant bathrooms instructing employees to wash their hands before returning to work. Instill the message to all your people, and have sanitizing solution accessible in multiple locations. |
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Dear ,
While common fear of the N1H1 virus (more commonly known as "swine flu") seems to be ebbing away, the World Health Organization (WHO) advises against complacency. According to WHO, northern hemisphere countries should brace themselves for a second, more devastating wave (World Health Organization, 28 August 2009). With the advent of the pandemic outbreak, businesses must lose no time in preparing their workforce to deal with smooth continuity of business operations. Comprehensive and successful preparation will significantly support your company in continuing to operate at optimal levels of productivity.
Please read on for more information on what you can do to mitigate losses should your company be afflicted by the pandemic. If you have any questions or concerns about these or other issues, please feel free to contact us by email at info@traumaoutreach.com.
Best regards,
Vanessa & Wilma
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Planning for a Pandemic
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Since the start of the HINI pandemic, there has been much media attention and guidelines for businesses and families about how to prepare for and react to an outbreak in their area. Our attached links will provide resources for you to establish a solid pandemic plan specific to your business make up.
Most pandemic plans, however, fail to address the psychological impact of this type of emergency on the workforce - and on business continuity. Every business will be presented with different sets of circumstances and scenarios that could manifest during a pandemic. Today we address some of these situations and the psychological implications that might arise.
Many employees will stay home due to:
Illness - their own or a family member
Fear Mandated quarantine Overseas personnel confined abroad until quarantine is lifted.
Distancing and isolation can have profound effects on individuals when they are taken out of their social context and work
environment. In order to effectively mitigate the negative consequences of isolation it is essential to have a cohesive communication system and structure so that people are:
~ Informed ~ In control ~ Connected
Some common symptoms of isolation are:
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Extreme distress
- Depression
- Helplessness
- Numbing
Communication Systems are vital in any emergency situation.For the purpose of this article, we focus on the necessity of communications in restoring the psychological health of your workforce. A viable Communication System will help to maintain open lines of communication and help mitigate the potential impact of psychological distress caused by isolation.
Your Communication Plan needs to include the following three tiers:
Preparation:
- A wide-ranging, reliable system able to reach all workers, managers, stockholders, customers and vendors.
- Templates for information to be relayed via multiple channels.
- Roles and actions that are expected from employees regarding work assignments, telecommuting information and emergency response assignments.
- The pandemic protocols to be explained to all employees in the preparation phase.
- Trauma Specialists to be involved in the preparation phase so they can be directly linked in to the communication system in order to consult and debrief employees directly.
Response:
- Regular updates on the status of the pandemic situation. Information to be presented in real-time with updated instructions so that people feel connected, informed and in control.
- A designated communication line set up for employees to speak directly with trauma specialists.
- Scheduled times for group consultation through conference calling available to all personnel
- Separate debriefings and trauma consultation should be available to management, workers and anyone impacted by the situation.
Recovery:
By attending to the psychological factors inherent in a pandemic response, you ensure connectivity and mental health among your workforce.
Additional Considerations:
It would be useful for your business to investigate the acquisition of antivirals as well as personal protective equipment (eg. masks, goggles, gloves etc.) to enhance the efficacy of your pandemic program. Other basics of emergency preparation such as food, water, first aid supplies etc. should also be installed. These efforts while being practical can also provide reassurance to your workforce.
To learn more about the pandemic and what you can do to prepare your business, please feel free to visit the Related Resources we have chosen this month or email us at info@traumaoutreach.com.
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________________________________________________
,
Thank you for taking the time to read this month's Trauma Talk. We hope you have found the information useful. If there are any topics you would like to see featured in a future
article of Trauma Talk, please let us know and we
will do our best to address them. We appreciate your comments, stories,
and thoughts as they will help us further refine and enrich our newsletter to benefit you.
Until our next talk, stay healthy and - keep washing your hands.
Warmly,
The Trauma Team
Trauma Outreach Associates, Inc.
Phone: 415.772.9999
___________________________________________
In the next issue...
Earthquake readiness-
20 years after Loma Prieta
415.772.9999
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