Employees and Traumatic Stress: Are You Prepared?

by Eileen Siddell, CEAP
Director, HelpPeople
Employee Assistance Program

An estimated one-half to three-quarters of the general population in the United States has been exposed to an event severe enough to result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD occurs when normal functioning continues to be disrupted three to six months beyond the event itself. Organizations, too, can suffer similar reactions following a traumatic event, such as downsizing or restructuring or an act of workplace violence.

An organization's ability to function after trauma or tragedy is due to the tangible connections and networks that are formed between the people who work there. It is critical that employers acknowledge the importance of these interpersonal bonds to the overall well-being of the entire organization.

There can be a high price to pay in terms of staff productivity and morale if traumatic events--and how to deal with them from the employees' perspective--are not addressed. In March, 1995, after 39 years in business, the San Francisco law firm of Pettit and Martin shut its doors after failing to overcome a tragedy, in this case the killing of several of its employees by a disgruntled ex-employee.

It's impossible to escape the constant bombardment of bad news in today's society. Workplace and domestic violence, crime and other catastrophes all add up to make trauma a daily strain in our lives. As mental health providers pursue new therapy methods to provide support and stabilization to victims of this stress, so too must the workplace be proactive in establishing programs and policies that validate the interpersonal bonds of their employees when faced with trauma.

Here are some guidelines:

  • Read articles on PSTD and critical incident stress debriefing (CISD);
  • Solicit feedback from upper management and areas within the organization with high potential for critical incidents;
  • Propose a CISD policy for your organization and secure the services of an emergency response team (employee assistance programs offer this service);
  • Provide an employee debriefing session within 24-72 hours after a traumatic or violent incident (may be mandatory and may include family members);
  • Schedule follow-up sessions at one month, three months, six months and one year.

 HelpPeople provides services to more than 70,000 employees and their families from more than 90 organizations in Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga and Madison counties. The agency provides counseling in various locations including its offices in Oswego and Syracuse. On-site educational programs on issues such as cultural diversity in the workplace are also available for employees and supervisors. Anyone seeking more information about HelpPeople should call the program director, Eileen Siddell, CEAP at 1-800-777-6110 or 315-470-7447.


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