Organizational Responses to the Need To Support Individuals Experiencing a Significant Life Event Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

There are numerous types of significant life events that may befall employees at work. While the core responsibility of organizations is to offer working opportunities to employees, it is crucial to mention that the well-being of workers is of great importance. Managers in organizations are supposed to offer adequate emotional support to individuals going through significant life events such as bereavement. The organizational response is prudent as part and parcel of making sure that employees recover as soon as possible (Miller, 2010).

To begin with, an organization can respond by being empathetic and offering much-needed support to the affected employee. It is also vital to have an informed choice on the type of emotional assistance that can be extended to an employee. There are instances when certain support provided to an employee may not beneficial at all (Padgett, 2010). Making a well-informed choice before advancing help is also a show of respect and dignity to the affected person.

Second, initiating communication with the affected person and ensuring confidentiality in the process of offering support are fundamental values during a time of significant loss such as bereavement. Impartial and objective handling of issues affecting employees should also be priorities. In other words, fairness should prevail at all times. Realizing the potential of employees at the workplace can only be precipitated when equal opportunity is availed to all and sundry. In addition, data protection is prudent, especially in cases whereby personal and sensitive details emerge out of significant life events.

To effectively respond to an employee who has gone through gross loss, an organization needs to protect the individual as much as possible owing to a high degree of vulnerability at that time. Some of the areas of vulnerability may include safety and mental health. Hence, it calls for a thorough risk and needs assessment immediately after an employee lands into a difficult life event.

The management team and the Human Resource department play fundamental roles when bereavement or grief strikes a worker within an organization. However, the latter team can only be effective if a long-term cordial relationship has been established between them and the affected employee. Staffs members working at the Human Resource department should be comprised of a good number of trained professionals who can offer support to the affected individual through counseling and soliciting for material assistance within the shortest time possible (Fox & Jones, 2013). After an employee has been bereaved, the management should offer an immediate leave from work. Normal duties should be resumed after full recovery. Besides, other co-workers and managers should extend sympathy and comfort to the affected person willingly.

Any significant event in the life of an employee is referred to as a critical incident. It has the capability of developing significant human distress and as such, it may outwit an individual’s ability to cope (Davey, Fearon & McLaughlin, 2013). Workplace productivity may also be remarkably affected when an employee is going through a critical incident. This explains why organizations should establish critical incident response teams. This team should comprise of trained employees and other professionals who may be drawn from outside. They should always be ready to handle any emerging cases that affect the productivity of employees. Their roles should include carrying out diffusing sessions, debriefing sessions, follow-up, critiquing sessions, and any other additional support that may be deemed necessary.

References

Davey, R., Fearon, C. & McLaughlin, H. 2013, “Organizational grief: an emotional perspective on understanding employee reactions to job redundancy”, Development and Learning in Organizations, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 5-8.

Fox, J. & Jones, K.D 2013, “DSM-5 and Bereavement: The Loss of Normal Grief?” Journal of Counseling and Development: JCD, vol. 91, no. 1, pp. 113-119.

Miller, C.T 2010, Employee perceptions of organizational support: An organizational commitment to a balanced work environment, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.

Padgett, S 2010, Bereavement: Grief intensifies for people trying to keep family businesses thriving: Survivors often left with business decisions at a difficult time, Harvard University Press, Washington.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2022, April 15). Organizational Responses to the Need To Support Individuals Experiencing a Significant Life Event. https://ivypanda.com/essays/organizational-responses-to-the-need-to-support-individuals-experiencing-a-significant-life-event/

Work Cited

"Organizational Responses to the Need To Support Individuals Experiencing a Significant Life Event." IvyPanda, 15 Apr. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/organizational-responses-to-the-need-to-support-individuals-experiencing-a-significant-life-event/.

References

IvyPanda. (2022) 'Organizational Responses to the Need To Support Individuals Experiencing a Significant Life Event'. 15 April.

References

IvyPanda. 2022. "Organizational Responses to the Need To Support Individuals Experiencing a Significant Life Event." April 15, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/organizational-responses-to-the-need-to-support-individuals-experiencing-a-significant-life-event/.

1. IvyPanda. "Organizational Responses to the Need To Support Individuals Experiencing a Significant Life Event." April 15, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/organizational-responses-to-the-need-to-support-individuals-experiencing-a-significant-life-event/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Organizational Responses to the Need To Support Individuals Experiencing a Significant Life Event." April 15, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/organizational-responses-to-the-need-to-support-individuals-experiencing-a-significant-life-event/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1