Helping employees affected by the crisis in Ukraine

At the Alliance, we are deeply concerned about the unjustified attacks by Russia on Ukraine. The past two weeks have been challenging as the world watches with increasing concern as this baseless invasion creates needless destruction and loss of life.

We stand with the people of Ukraine.

As your health and safety partner, we also recognize that your employees may be deeply upset by the events unfolding. Some of them may have personal connections to the people of Ukraine – and have even greater feelings of grief and hopelessness.

Other workers who have experienced the trauma of war – including veterans, refugees, and new Canadians, may experience post-traumatic stress.

Help your team members to feel safe, secure, and supported at work.

Acknowledge what is happening and create space for discussion
Remind people of available supports such as EFAP programs
Provide flexibility whenever possible
Practice empathy – it’s not always possible to know how people are reacting to this situation
Create psychologically safe environments for workers
Provide education to help staff recognize when a co-worker may be in distress
Consider mental health check-ins to see how your team is doing

The stress of watching this conflict – no matter how far away – can impact your employees’ mental health and wellbeing. Your team members may also want to help the people in Ukraine, so look for opportunities to support them in these efforts.

We’ve compiled some resources you can share with your teams to help support them through this conflict.

Mental health resources