While there is no catchall response a company can make to its employees in the aftermath of a workplace disaster, it is nearly always appropriate to allow each worker the necessary time to reflect, mourn, and cope with anxiety. Aside from being the right thing to do from a moral standpoint, doing your best to respond in a sensitive, compassionate way will foster loyalty and boost morale at a difficult time.

Any comprehensive plan designed to help employees cope with disaster should incorporate the following three actions:

1. Plan for anxiety and mourning.
2. Communicate clearly.
3. Give people options.

Plan for Anxiety and Mourning

Over the days, weeks, and months that follow a disaster, employees will almost certainly experience heightened anxiety, fear, and sadness. If not attended to, this increased preoccupation can lead to accidents or mishaps due to a lack of focus as well as continued emotional trauma. The following actions can help combat such troubles and prevent new ones: