6 Ways To Support Employees Through Difficult Times

How to Help Employees During Hard Times

Supporting and caring for your employees, especially during difficult times, has always been important. However, in 2024, it has become a necessity for businesses to prioritize their employees’ well-being. Beyond your team’s work lives, it’s crucial to show them you care. 

During challenging times, your employees need to know you’re there for them. These are key points in your relationship with your team. How you respond to the events in their lives outside of work communicates volumes about your concern for them as individuals. 

In this article, we’re going over some tips for how to support grieving employees, plus some custom employee support ideas to get you started. This is knowledge you can put to use immediately to improve the quality of your relationships with your team. We’ll also share inspiration for great employee support gifts. 

Ready to learn how you can be a more supportive leader for your team when times get tough? Let’s jump into it.

How To Be There for Employees Going Through Hard Times

There are many things you can do to support your employees when times get challenging. Whether it’s a collective event that everyone is experiencing together or personal tragedy has struck, it’s crucial to navigate these situations well. Here are some proactive tips, including thoughtful employee gift ideas, to help you guide your team members through hard times. 

1. Acknowledge the Situation 

When difficult things happen, it’s important to acknowledge the situation for what it is. Don’t gloss over hard things, and don’t let significant life challenges go without addressing them. Your team members will always remember how you responded to their losses, tragedies, and life difficulties, so make your response count. 

2. Give Grace 

Giving plenty of grace to your employees during hard times is another way to show them compassion and offer support. Give them some breathing room on upcoming deadlines where possible, allow them to pass on tasks that don’t have to be done immediately, and delegate where possible. If there are other team members who have been cross-trained to pick up some of their responsibilities, have them step in to help. 

3. Check on Your Team Members

Checking in with your team periodically is a good general rule of thumb. However, when members of your team have experienced challenges, it’s a good idea to check on them. Avoid being overbearing or attempting to discuss topics they aren’t ready to talk about. Instead, simply ask how they’re doing. They’ll remember that you thought of them.

4. Offer Helpful Resources

Let your team members know how to access the resources available at your company, including crisis counseling if applicable. Send them helpful links and reference material to help them get started. Just knowing where to begin and who to reach out to could ease the overwhelm for employees who might need additional mental health care during this time. 

5. Have an Open-Door Policy

As a leader, it’s a good idea to have an open-door policy as part of your plan for how to support grieving employees. That can come in handy on typical days, but it’s especially needed when your team members need a listening ear. Make sure your team knows your door is always open when they need you. This communicates that you care about their situation and well-being, and you want to be there for them. 

6. Give Thoughtful Gifts

When a member of your team is going through a personal tragedy or difficult life situation, consider giving them a thoughtful gift. This lets them know that you’re thinking about them. These employee support gifts can be from your whole team.

When an employee is grieving or coping with life challenges, they might be comforted by thoughtful employee gift ideas like: 

• Custom Port Authority Window Pane Flannel Sherpa Blanket, whose soft fabric feels like a warm hug
• 52 Weeks of Gratitude Book, which helps recipients focus on the beauty of life even in the midst of sadness
• Corporate Serene House White Ranger White USB Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser, which adds ambiance to any room or workspace

   

Generously offering emotional support and grace in the workplace will endear you to your team members, but adding gifts to the mix shows them that you’re willing to go the extra mile. 

Contact Us

Need more helpful employee support gift ideas? At Merchology, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today for more custom employee support ideas - we’re ready to help.