Russia/Ukraine War sparks anxiety in the workplace worldwide – find out how employers can help

Following two years of severe restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, life appeared as though it was returning to normal. But, the lifeline of hope was soon shattered when Russian troops began their invasion of Ukraine. Social media has been awash with pain, confusion and sadness worldwide, with people voicing fear, shock and frustration over the advancing crisis. Many people across the world are directly or indirectly affected by the crisis and most feel that they are powerless to help. The knock-on effect spills into the workplace.  So what can employers do to help?

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) can help with anxiety and depression 

The Russia-Ukraine War, with its associated humanitarian crisis, has sent shock waves across the world since it began just over a week ago. While anxiety linked to the crisis is completely understandable, employers need to be aware that for certain employees the levels of stress, depression and heightened anxiety associated with continuous live news updates about the war can be serious enough to require counseling.  Not to mention that certain employees, who may have family and friends who are directly impacted by the war are undergoing severe stress and anxiety right now.  At the other end of the scale, employees are also looking to employers to provide channels through which they can help those affected by the war.  This can be achieved through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).  An employer-driven Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a work-based intervention program designed to identify and help employees to resolve personal problems that may be adversely affecting their work performance. Such programs include wellness programsstress management programs, legal assistance, family and trauma counselling.


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Encourage employees to talk about their fears at work 

EAPs can also be deployed through informal channels that seek to address problems related to a particular  situation or event and are often set up during times of crisis.  Yet, at the heart of any crisis, communication is key.  Here are a few tips on what employers can do to help their staff cope better at this time.  People should be encouraged to talk about their fears Even if the crisis doesn’t appear to impact the business, employers are encouraged to let their staff know that it is okay to talk about how they are feeling. This creates a dedicated space for employees to air their concerns, especially if they are directly impacted by the crisis, and to band together to raise money to support those in need. Discourage employees from “Doomscrolling” Doomscrolling or doomsurfing, which involves becoming fixated on continuously monitoring news of an ongoing crisis, is a coping mechanism that is used to try and gain control over a situation by obtaining as much information as possible. Yet, it can make things worse when people are unable to break the habit and especially when they are unable to channel information into useful action. Instead, guide employees to rather seek out platforms to donate towards humanitarian aid. If there are televisions in common staff areas, tune in to non-news channels. 

Encourage employees to make use of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) 

Employee Assistance Programs such as a trauma counseling service can help employees to cope better with stress and anxiety. Employers would be well placed to communicate the benefits of such programs to their staff and encourage them to make use of these programs.
 

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