What happens when you lose someone from your team? How much more tragic is it when it happens on site?

This past weekend, two NFL teams have had to deal with this. In Kansas City, one of the Chiefs players committed suicide by shooting himself at the facility in front of the general manager and coach, and just days before the next scheduled game. In Cleveland, a member of the Browns ground crew committed suicide at the team’s facility. The death of an employee, especially when they take their own life on site, can have a hugely detrimental impact on the rest of the organization. What if that happened in your organization? Are you prepared to deal with it? How do you know?

This past year, one of my clients lost an employee on site due to a heart attack. To add to it, the spouse worked there and was on site at the time. Last year, a Rotarian friend of mine who owned an auto repair shop had a heart attack and died. His employees tried in vain to give him CPR.

Too many of you think of crisis in the forms of fire, theft, and natural disasters. A workplace death, especially during working hours, can be as big a crisis as you can face. Knowing what to do in advance helps you, your employees, and your organization.

© 2012 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved