As a business owner or manager, many of the potential problems that affect staff are within your power to resolve, but sometimes what’s happening in someone’s personal life can start to have an impact on their work performance. Years ago, most managers would have worked on the premise that personal problems should be left at the door, but we now know that this is a counter-productive attitude. You may not be able to solve the problems in an employee’s private life, but taking action to support your staff can help them manage the situation better and minimize the effect on your business.
- Ill health
Many people are fearful of confiding that they have health problems to their boss because they’re worried it will affect their job security. If they’re dealing with mental health issues, they’ll be particularly reluctant to talk about it, as the stigma and misunderstanding of mental health is still far too high among employers. Mental health problems are no less valid than physical health problems, and anyone with a mental health condition stands a far greater chance of recovering if they get help as soon as possible.
Struggling with an illness or chronic health condition isn’t good for employees’ health and will inevitably affect their productivity. Hopefully, you should have created an environment in which staff feels able to come to you about any issues that are bothering them, but if you’re concerned about someone’s health and they aren’t telling you about what’s going on, you should call them in and have a chat. You need to make it clear they aren’t in any trouble, but that you want to know how you can improve their working environment.
For example, if someone’s struggling with back problems, do they need a new office chair, or could they benefit from being able to get up and walk around at regular intervals? If it’s within your abilities to supply aids to them or help them manage their condition, they’ll be far more able to work productively for you. If they need time off for treatment, then try to be as accommodating as possible. It’s better to have an employee absent for a few hours or days now and then than for them to become so unwell they end up taking weeks or months off work.
- Financial problems
Financial issues are one of the most frequent causes of stress in many people’s lives, and it’s a situation that causes feelings of shame and embarrassment as well. If you have anyone who’s struggling to pay their bills or has a crippling financial burden, you may be limited in terms of relieving their monetary situation, so your primary role is more of a supportive one, letting them know they have someone to talk to and who understands what’s going on.
In some instances, you may be able to help them find ways to ease their financial burden or manage their money more effectively. For example, you could provide them with information on debt charities, or give them the details of helpful credit brokers like Bonsai Finance, so they are better able to manage their money. Some companies offer financial aid services to employees to help them through difficult times, and you should certainly look at any schemes that could assist your staff member. You can also explore the possibilities of overtime working to boost their income.
- Bereavement
Staff needs to take time off if they’ve suffered the death of someone close to them, and they may well need counseling services as well. It’s essential that people grieve for their loved ones rather than suppressing their emotions, and having space away from work gives them a chance to come to terms with the initial grief.
Depending on their frame of mind, people often decide to return to work earlier than they need to because it’s a familiar routine and it gives them something to take their mind off what’s happened. If your employee does decide to come back, make sure they’re up to it and that they have all the support they need. If your business offers a counseling service as part of the human resources facilities, encourage your employee to attend, and if there are no in-house services, support them to find a suitable counselor who can help them get through the bereavement process.
- Family breakdowns
Couples do unfortunately split up for a number of reasons, and no matter what has caused the split, the people involved will be dealing with one of the most stressful experiences in life. Your employee may be facing not only the loss of someone they love, but the prospect of having to move, an increased financial burden, and if there are children involved, sorting out care arrangements. Once again, you need to be understanding and sympathetic and provide time off if necessary while the separation is taking place. Keep an eye out for signs that stress is affecting your staff and point them towards counseling services if it seems appropriate.
- Communication
If a member of staff isn’t performing as well as they usually do, you have to find the cause, and that means talking to them. If it’s a personal issue, they may well keep it under wraps and try to hide the problem from you, so you should discuss the situation and explain you need to know why their performance has dipped so that you can help.
Your primary responsibility is to the business, but the staff is such a vital part of a company that it’s crucial to address any welfare issues that arise before they impact on your profitability. It’s important to retain a distance from the problem so that you don’t become personally involved, but to combine this with a sympathetic and responsive attitude that supports your staff through their crisis.
Staff welfare issues can be some of the trickiest situations you’ll encounter as a manager, not least because there’s so little you can do to help in many cases. However, by supporting your staff and acknowledging the problem, you will be doing more than you might realize to help them through their troubles.
