Question
How can identifying workplace trauma benefit employees and the overall work environment?
Answer
Identifying workplace trauma serves a dual purpose: it acknowledges that employees are affected by these challenges and reassures them that they are not alone. Creating a trauma-informed workplace culture helps employees comprehend their trauma and encourages them to seek treatment or support. This awareness also enables managers to support their team members more effectively, promoting a culture of resilience and recovery. It is crucial to prepare for trauma before it occurs, ensuring that a plan of action is in place for when challenges arise.
Reflecting on your workplace, consider whether it is trauma-informed. Has this topic been discussed in team meetings or training sessions? In my discussions with healthcare professionals, trauma-informed practices are often not widely implemented in settings such as doctor's offices, hospitals, or clinics. This highlights the need for broader awareness and adoption of trauma-informed approaches across all sectors of healthcare, ultimately fostering a supportive environment for all employees.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, Staying Grounded Through Workplace Trauma, presented by Ten'Niquwa Bryan,
M.S in I/O Psychology.
Continued and its subsidiaries provide professional education authored by qualified Subject Matter Experts for continuing education purposes. These materials are intended for educational purposes and do not constitute medical advice or a substitute for individual clinical judgment. Continued is not a clinical healthcare provider; the licensed professional is solely responsible for ensuring that the application of any techniques or information presented is within their legal scope of practice and jurisdictional requirements.
