As a business owner, at some stage you will inevitably be asked to help an employee through a crisis in either their personal or professional life. How you respond to their bereavement, financial difficulties or workplace meltdown, will directly affect your other employees and your company culture.

Supporting your staff can increase loyalty, improve morale, and strengthen team cohesion. But it’s not just about empathy – these situations can have long-term implications for productivity, reputation, and even your bottom line.

“When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.” (Simon Sinek)

Employee engagement.

It determines so much about the direction of a company, its staff productivity and how likely it is to succeed. According to a Gallup poll just 23% of South African employees are actively engaged, and the support offered by your company during difficult times is a key predictor of whether your employees are doing better or worse than that. Ignoring a personal crisis or mismanaging it can result in diminished trust, high turnover, and costly legal complications. On the other hand, getting it right can transform a tough moment into a team-building exercise that drives loyalty across your enterprise. Here are our five tips for handling an employee's crisis with care, compassion, and professionalism.

Listen without judgement

• The first step in supporting someone through a crisis is simply to listen. Not all employees will be forthcoming, and many will fear repercussions or shame if they do share. By creating a psychologically safe environment where they feel heard and respected, you allow the conversation to unfold in a way that will allow you to help.
• Listening does not mean solving. Ask what they need. Avoid overpromising or reacting too quickly. This is their experience, not yours, and your job is to provide space for them to express it.

Tailor your support to the individual

• There is no one-size-fits-all approach. While one employee might benefit from time off, another may prefer flexible hours or a change in responsibilities. Consider what reasonable accommodations can be made, in accordance with HR policies and employment laws. What’s important is that the support feels personal and meaningful, not generic or performative. You will likely want to speak to HR or, in a smaller business, ask for outside advice.

Communicate clearly (and privately)

• When an employee’s going through emotional turmoil, one of the most challenging aspects is managing the line between transparency and confidentiality. While you may need to inform certain stakeholders about changes in workflow or responsibilities, the nature of an employee’s crisis should never be discussed openly or speculated about in the office.
• Establish clear, private channels of communication and check in regularly. Let the employee know what’s being shared and with whom – and always ask for their consent where appropriate. Trust is fragile and you need to protect it.

Support your other employees too

• It’s not just the employee in crisis who needs help – often their direct manager, or co-workers will also be feeling overwhelmed, overworked or unsure how to proceed. Offering management training on crisis response, mental health first aid, and compassionate communication can improve outcomes for everyone involved.
• Managers are on the front line of employee wellbeing, and giving them the right tools helps avoid missteps that could escalate the situation.

Make room in your budget for empathy

• There’s no denying that crisis support can come with financial implications, from offering extra leave to making temporary hires to cover the missed workloads and even therapy for the staff member. But investing in your people always pays off in the long run. This is where your accountant becomes more than a numbers person.
• A good accountant can help you identify inefficiencies, reallocate budget, and plan for contingency resources that empower your company to care for its people without compromising its financial goals.

Lead by example

Your response to employee hardship is a reflection of your company’s values in action. Whether you're a five-person startup or a 500-person corporation, prioritising empathy in moments of crisis can leave a lasting legacy of loyalty, leadership, and integrity.

If you need help freeing up some “empathy budget”, speak to us.

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