Crisis Communications - After a Robbery

Communication with employees is critical

Trauma happens in the blink of an eye.  One moment, you are engaged in the exceedingly ordinary tasks that often make up the bulk of a comfortable workday.  The next you are confronted with a life-or-death scenario.  In the case of a bank robbery, that dynamic takes on a decidedly personal feel.  Unlike other types of traumatic events, robberies involve that direct interaction of a perpetrator specifically targeting an individual or group as the recipients of his threats or acts of violence.

This quote, from a Crisis Care Network article by Dr. Betty Gilmore and Bob VandePol, MSW, describes one type of incident that creates a crisis that is more internal than external. While insurance replaces losses, and generally the bank itself is not blamed for the robbery, the employees involved often suffer serious after-effects. Because of this, a major part of crisis management in the aftermath of a robbery is communication with employees, especially those directly involved. By letting your employees know that you care about their feelings and well-being, you can improve their psychological health, reduce lost productivity, and hopefully get back to business as usual.


The BCM Blogging Team
http://www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com/