z Encouraging colleagues to speak up. The illness of an employee can affect certain tasks and may require employees to share or increase their workload. Encourage your employees to discuss their emotions and ideas around sharing the extra work, or any other work-related issues related to the illness or absence of an individual. z Having a point person to act as a liaison with the unwell co-worker—whether it’s you or a colleague he or she is especially close with—to communicate information to be shared such as treatment updates, whether the worker wishes to have visitors, or any way colleagues can be of help, etc. Staying Connected Sometimes people shy away from interaction with someone who is seriously ill because they don’t know what to say or how to interact. Discuss and share the following tips for interacting with an ill co-worker with staff to ease the awkwardness and keep communication flowing. z Keep in touch through phone calls or encouraging notes to remind your colleague that he or she is in your thoughts. z Follow the lead. Let the person suffering from the illness lead the conversation. Listen to what he or she is (and isn’t) saying and only offer advice if asked. z Take it day-to-day. People suffering from a chronic or serious illness may want to talk about their condition one day and not the next. Don’t be offended if your colleague seems quieter than usual or wants to be left alone. This is normal. Respect feelings and be ready to listen and be there when needed. z Give your full attention. Turn off your cell phone and don’t make plans to visit when you know it will be a “tight fit” into your schedule. It takes time to really listen and give someone your full attention. Also, make eye contact during your conversation and don’t fidget. These can be signs you are uncomfortable or avoiding something. z Stay the same. While the outlook of the co-worker suffering from the illness may have changed, he or she is still the same person you got to know before the diagnosis. Don’t be a fairweather friend: show the same level of commitment and friendship you did before the health issue arose. z Get comfortable with silence. Can’t find the words? Don’t be afraid to let an awkward lull in the conversation happen. It’s better and more real than empty chatter. Often a kind smile can say much more in the moment than words. z Embrace laughter. Don’t be afraid to tell a good joke or story at appropriate moments. It can take your colleague’s mind off the illness and help keep spirits up. z What not to say. Don’t use phrases like “I know how you feel” unless you’ve had the same experience with the illness. Instead, ask “What are you feeling?” A Helping Hand Help your employees affected by the illness of their co-worker by discussing unique ways they can be of help. Remember, you are not only helping the individual, but their family and close friends affected by their illness. There are many ways you can assist and positively impact the life of a chronically ill colleague during this difficult time. Make a difference by: z Staying informed. Preferences vary from one person to the next. Some people want to know everything about their illness, while others only want to learn facts on a “need to know” basis. Researching the illness, treatment options, and support services available for the ill person are all practical ways to help and show support. z Thinking outside the box. Weakness or limited mobility caused by the illness can interfere with the completion of daily tasks. Help your colleague discover new ways to get things done. Look into grocery and medication delivery and additional community support services available in your area to help make your co-worker’s “to do” list a little easier. z Ask. Don’t wait to be told what you can do for someone with an illness. Ask. Better yet, ask when you can do specific things, such as cut the lawn or baby sit. Making the first offer to help can make it easier for your colleague to accept your assistance. When first diagnosed with an illness, many people receive a lot of initial care and support. This attention, however, can fade over time, especially if struggling with a chronic illness that spans months. The most important part about offering help is in following through. It may be easy at first to be a support, but over time, it can become more challenging to follow through on good intentions. Be constant and do what you say you’ll do. Doing so, will help your colleague feel supported and valued during a very challenging life stage. 32 | 2025 | Issue 1 Supporting Your Practice
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