Unfortunately, there are times when accidents are inevitable. You can do anything and everything within your business to keep you, your business, and your employees safe, but sometimes, things are inevitable, especially if you have no control of the environment.
For example, when your employees are going to and from work. This doesn’t only include their commute but when they’re using the company car for work, such as visiting clients. In fact, 24% of car crashes are commuter-related, and that also includes employees who are currently on the clock. Now, not all accidents are created equally; some are true.
It’s awful to think (sincerely), but it’s not uncommon for someone to have deep-rooted trauma after an accident. Again, it doesn’t have to be a car accident. For example, if you own a roofing company and your employee fell, that’s life-altering and traumatic, too. But as a business owner, they’re not just your employees; they’re one of yout partners, and they’re human.
So you need to go about this a compassionate approach. So, here’s exactly what every business owner and team can do for supporting their employees and team members during a work-related accident, or just any personal accident in general.
How Can You Support Your Employees?
Just like what was mentioned above, as a business owner, it’s crucial to respond with compassion and support during such challenging times. But how exactly can you lend a helping hand to them?
Immediate Response and Support
In the immediate aftermath of a work-related accident, your employee needs your prompt attention and care. If you or your team members were at the scene, then yes, of course, there will need to be immediate medical assistance. This not only addresses their physical needs but also conveys your commitment to their well-being. But what about beyond medical attention?
Again, there might have been a chance that you couldn’t have been there for medical attention. Well, beyond medical attention, offering emotional support is equally important. Just take the time to express genuine concern and empathy for your employee’s situation. Let them know that you’re there to support them through this difficult time.
Help Them Navigate the Legal Procedures
A work-related accident is still a work-related accident, even if nothing happened at the office. So, you’ll need to have a strong understanding of the legal and insurance aspects surrounding work-related accidents, which is crucial for both you and your employee. You both don’t necessarily need to be pitted against each other, something that a lot of business owners seem to think.
Actually, don’t do that! You need to have a compassionate approach! So, just go ahead and take the time to familiarize yourself with relevant labor laws, workers’ compensation regulations, and insurance policies. You noth are going to need some help and support, and by doing so, you can ensure that your employee receives the appropriate benefits and support they’re entitled to.
But is that all? Well, it really depends on the situation itself. For example, if your employee got hit by a truck with the company car (during working hours), then you both could look into truck accident attorneys and take action since you both are being affected by this. But you can still help in other ways, too. You could even offer assistance to your employee in navigating the paperwork required to file a workers’ compensation claim or any other necessary documentation. Your guidance can ease their burden and ensure that all procedures are followed correctly.
Keep On Communicating
It’s going to help to just keep talking to them. So, with that said, open and honest communication is key to providing ongoing support to your injured employee. It’s just a good idea to keep the lines of communication open by regularly checking in with them, again, they’re human and you need to see them as a partner. Plus, it’s a nice way to keep morale high.
You could use this as a way to offer updates on any developments related to their absence from work and reassure them that their job is secure during their recovery period. But of course, you should also encourage them to reach out if they have any questions or concerns and be proactive in addressing any issues that may arise. By maintaining a transparent and supportive dialogue, you can help alleviate your employee’s anxieties and foster a sense of trust and camaraderie within your workplace.
Don’t neglect them; no matter how busy you are, they’re a part of the team, so act like it.
Don’t Force Return-to-Work Quickly
Again, there might have been some trauma, so they don’t deserve to be forced into this so quickly; plus, maybe they physically can’t return just yet, either.
But keep an eye on their physical and mental recovery. As your employee progresses through their recovery, encourage them to focus on rehabilitation and returning to work when they’re ready. Again, don’t force anything because it’s going to take time.
However, one thing that could help them (because routine is important) would be to offer flexibility in their work arrangements, such as modified duties or adjusted schedules, to accommodate any physical limitations they may have. Just be patient with them; they’ve been through a lot. However, you should also try to collaborate with them and their healthcare providers to develop a gradual return-to-work plan that prioritizes their health and safety.
So, by actively supporting their rehabilitation efforts, you demonstrate your commitment to their long-term well-being and professional growth.
Foster a Caring Culture
Just like what was mentioned earlier, it’s about thinking about the human aspect, not profits, but the fact that your team, including the injured one, are all human, you all have lives, and you all are in this together. Ultimately, fostering a culture of care within the workplace is essential for supporting employees after work-related accidents.
This includes promoting open communication, empathy, and support among team members. This should be pretty obvious, but by prioritizing employee well-being and creating a supportive work environment, business owners can help mitigate the negative impact of work-related accidents and promote positive outcomes for their employees.
What Can Your Employees Do to Show Support?
Work-related accidents can be unsettling for everyone in the workplace, especially when they involve a colleague. For the most part, a team does think of everyone as a team, and usually, morale gets incredibly low when something bad happens to a team member- especially if it involves work (because that could have been them instead). While it’s scary to think, everyone needs to be there for each other and for the employee who got injured.
So as a business owner you need to address this and make sure that everyone feels like they’re in this together to support the injured employee. So, here’s how your team can support a co-worker who’s recovering from a work-related accident.
Expressing Empathy and Compassion
So, this one is incredibly obvious, especially if the company has a culture of compassion and helping each other. Plus, this is something that inherently everyone is going to do naturally, no matter how liked or disliked the injured employee is. So, just make sure everyone takes the time to express concern and offer your support in any way you can.
A simple, heartfelt message or gesture can go a long way in reassuring your coworkers that they’re not alone in this journey. Let them know that you’re there to listen, lend a helping hand, or provide emotional support whenever they need it.
Offer Practical Help
While saying “I hope you’ll be okay” can help with morale, one of the better things you can do would be to offer more practical help. For example, you or others in the team could offer to help with tasks or responsibilities they may be unable to manage due to their injury. Maybe it’s covering their shifts, assisting with paperwork, or running errands on their behalf; your willingness to pitch in can alleviate their stress and workload during their recovery period.
Maintaining Positive Communication
So, earlier, it was already mentioned that consistent communication is important, but this needs to be positive. Not the whole “when can you come back to work?” that’s just horribly rude. So, what you can do instead would be to reach out regularly to check in on their well-being and offer updates on any developments in the workplace.
You have to be sensitive to their needs and preferences, respecting their privacy and autonomy while also letting them know that you’re available to provide assistance or company whenever they feel up to it.
Just Respect Their Recovery Time
This was slightly mentioned, but everyone on the team, as well as the whole company, needs to be considerate when it comes to this. Everyone needs to recognize that they may need time and space to heal both physically and emotionally. So, it’s best to avoid making assumptions or judgments about their situation and refrain from pressuring them to return to work before they’re ready. Instead, offer your continued support and understanding, letting them know that you’re there to support them every step of the way.
