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Management article
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Reference no. C0203A
Published by: Harvard Business Publishing
Published in: "Harvard Management Communication Letter", 2002

Abstract

When tragedy strikes the workplace, how managers respond has a critical impact on employees'' ability to heal and move forward. Help employees recover by taking these steps. Communicate early and often with them: schedule regular updates, even when there''s no news. Don''t withdraw; stay involved, or risk becoming irrelevant. Bring people together and encourage them to express their feelings. Be solution-oriented. Honor the departed. Finally, focus on the future. Some disruption of normal routine is expected--even desirable--after a traumatic event in the workplace, but getting back to a routine can be comforting. Revisiting and recommitting to company and team goals can bring together a team torn apart by tragedy. The article includes a sidebar on dealing with the media in times of crisis.

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Abstract

When tragedy strikes the workplace, how managers respond has a critical impact on employees'' ability to heal and move forward. Help employees recover by taking these steps. Communicate early and often with them: schedule regular updates, even when there''s no news. Don''t withdraw; stay involved, or risk becoming irrelevant. Bring people together and encourage them to express their feelings. Be solution-oriented. Honor the departed. Finally, focus on the future. Some disruption of normal routine is expected--even desirable--after a traumatic event in the workplace, but getting back to a routine can be comforting. Revisiting and recommitting to company and team goals can bring together a team torn apart by tragedy. The article includes a sidebar on dealing with the media in times of crisis.

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