A Post-Crisis Message to Managers
"Do You Have a Troubled Employee?"

by Dan Paulk

Problem: It is several days or a week after the crisis event, and you continue to notice symptoms such as:

• Employee displays an unusual disinterest or disregard of work
• Misses deadlines
• Increased difficulty in handling assignments
• Makes unusual mistakes or uses poor judgment as compared to former performance
• Increased absenteeism or lateness
• Visibly upset - worried - fearful - preoccupied
• Demonstrates mood swings
• Isolates from others
• Unusually argumentative - irritability or even intense anger
• Difficulty in recalling instructions, details, etc.
• Alternating periods of high and low productivity
• Over-reaction to real or imagined criticism
• Can't sit still, jumpy, easy to startle
• Anxiety about discussing the event
• In general, the behavioral patterns are unusual (not typical) for this individual

The effects of the traumatic experience should begin to diminish within a few days. Should they linger on for more than a week, the employee may need further assistance.

Did you know?
About 200,000 new cases of post-traumatic stress disorder occur each year, with related costs of approximately $100 billion annually. In the wake of a crisis, even after damaged buildings have been rebuilt and computer systems are fully functioning, the costs in terms of human damage can go on.