Personal challenges at work: how to support your staff
Life happens, and let’s face it, having to deal with life’s challenges in the workplace can add unnecessary stress on top of everything else. Here are tools and resources you can share with the members of your team to help them (and you) through a rough patch.
Is someone in your team going through a tough time?
As a business owner, you might want to support your people by sharing this page with them. It includes:
- A worksheet to help workers decide if they want (or need) to let you know what’s going on for them.
- How much to share with you or their manager.
- How to prepare what they would like to say.
- A resource you and your worker can use together to help identify what support might help them.
Businesses that support wellbeing in their workforce generally have a happier and more positive team of people. They have lower absenteeism, fewer injuries, and experience higher productivity and customer satisfaction. A company culture of support is also good for attracting and retaining employees.
It’s difficult to see people who’re having a tough time, but remember, even small actions of support from you can make a really big difference for the members of your team. Share this page with your team so that they have access to the worksheets below.
For more ideas on how you as a manager can support your workers through a tough time, visit:
Deciding whether to share
It’s not always easy to know if the people in your team should tell you what’s going on in their lives, or how to go about it. Sometimes they need to tell their manager, and sometimes they don’t.
Share this resource with your workers to help them decide if they want (or need) to let you know.
Deciding what to share
Telling you what’s going on can help your worker and the team. They don’t have to share everything, but it’s good to let you know what the impact is on them and the support they might need.
Share this resource with your workers to help them decide what they want (or need) to share with you.
Get ready to share
Once they know what they want share with you, your worker can use this worksheet to help them prepare to share: clarify why they’re telling you, how much they want to say and ideas on what might help them.
Share this resource with your workers to help them prepare before telling you where they’re at.
You & your worker: what might help
The wellbeing of everyone in the workplace is important. This printable can help you and the members of your team figure-out what support might help if someone is going through a tough time.
Figure out together what changes, if any, might be helpful.
Tips for business owners
Organisations that support good mental wellbeing generally have happier people, a more positive workplace and, ultimately, a healthier business. Remember small acts of support can make a big difference.
Don’t assume what someone might need, or what might help them the most – rather ask first. Questions like:
- “What might be a good first step?”, or
- “What has helped in the past?”
Defaulting to time off work may not be as helpful as flexible working arrangements. Research shows that the more people stay engaged at work, the better their long-term wellbeing.
Visit the Employment New Zealand website to find out more about flexible working hours.
Flexible working arrangements(external link) — Employment New Zealand
Try and find something that works for you and your worker. Put agreements in writing, keep communication open and regularly review arrangements.
Visit the WorkSafe website to find other help.
Mental health(external link) — WorkSafe