Helping Employees in Distress

CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY if safety is an immediate concern.

• Behavior such as verbal or physical threats to harm others or self, or active threats of suicide, are reasons to call.
• If the person you are talking to has expressed the intent to do self-harm, do not leave them alone.  Call 911 immediately.
• After calling 911, notify the UFHR Employee Relations Office for your area to determine next steps.

EMPLOYEE DANGEROUS TO OTHERS – WARNING SIGNS:

• Verbal or written threats to harm others, including threating or harassing phone calls, text messages, emails, written notes, etc.
• Physically intimidating, threatening, and/or aggressive actions, including stalking behaviors
• Possessing or displaying a weapon in the workplace, or threatening to get a weapon from another place (such as car, home, etc.)
• Loss of contact with reality, such as seeing or hearing things that others cannot see or hear
• Paranoia and fear that others may be conspiring against them

EMPLOYEE DANGEROUS TO SELF – WARNING SIGNS:

• Openly communicating suicidal thoughts and/or threats to harm self (may be communicated verbally or in writing through e-mail, on social media or academic sites)
• Making statements as if they are saying goodbye or joking about suicide.  (For example, “My family would be better off without me,” or “I wish I could kill myself.”)
• Giving away prized possessions
• Withdrawing from friends, family, and society
• Physical signs of self-harm or injury

Additional Resources:

• Dial 988 to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.  If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, support is always available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• University of Florida Suicide Prevention Resources

*After calling 911, communicate with your supervisor and HR Liaison, then consult with the UFHR Employee Relations Office for your area and develop a plan.

A disruptive employee demonstrates inappropriate behavior that negatively impacts employees and the work environment, but safety is not an immediate concern.

• Consult with the UFHR Employee Relations Office for your area.
• If the employee is receptive, provide information about the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) including the following phone number: (352) 273-1765

DISRUPTIVE EMPLOYEE – WARNING SIGNS:

• Disruptive behavior such as hostile toward others, aggressive, interferes with teamwork, disregards expected workplace behavior and common courtesy
• Insubordinate in responses; fails to comply with corrective feedback or is otherwise uncooperative
• Irrational beliefs or fears that others may be conspiring against them

Response to a Disruptive Employee:

• Attempt to deescalate the situation.  Offer to find someone to assist in problem-solving, and meet with appropriate parties to work on a solution
• Potential phrases to use to deescalate the situation:
  • I understand you are frustrated, and I am here to listen, but we need to remain calm and respectful.
  • My understanding of what you are saying is…
  • That sounds extremely frustrating.  What are some options to move forward?
  • What do you need right now?
  • Let’s take a break until …
• Work with your supervisor, HR Liaison and UFHR Employee Relations to develop a plan of action
• Implement the plan and follow up with recommended resources such as the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Document your actions and conversations

Safety IS NOT an immediate concern.

Employee Assistance Program: (352) 273-1765

Warning Signs:

Employees in distress may not be disruptive to others but might exhibit behaviors that indicate something is problematic. They may also be reluctant or unable to acknowledge a need for personal help. Behaviors may include:

• Bizarre or irrational behavior, emotionally unstable
• Difficulty in Communicating; communicates in an erratic or delusional manner; rapid or rambling speech/thoughts
• Personal challenges or life events impacting the workplace, or domestic violence.
• Changes in emotional states; e.g. sadness, crying, lethargy, irritability, preoccupied, increased and more intense disagreement with peers, sense of confusion
• Changes in physical well-being; e.g. swollen eyes from crying, increased illnesses, poor self-hygiene, rapid weight loss/ gain
• Severe decline in Productivity or Work Quality
• Tardiness and excessive absences inconsistent with prior history
• Repeated requests for special consideration; ex. Deadline extensions, changes in job requirements

Response to a Troubled Employee:

• Consult the UFHR Employee Relations Office for your area
• Hold a conversation with the employee somewhere that is comfortable and provides privacy. Tell the employee you are worried about them and why
• Address the situation directly and how it relates to the position; have someone else in the meeting with the two of you
• Depending on the situation, ask the important question- “Based on what you are saying about how things are for you, I am wondering… Are you thinking about hurting yourself?”
• Do not make promises of confidentiality
• Refer to campus and community mental health resources: Employee Assistance Program (352-273-1765) or Alachua County Crisis Center (352-264-6789)